Rifle identification challenge!

[Mojo-jo-jo]

It's an invisible-to-xray plastic Glock automatic revolver assault weapon rifle, with a rate of fire of 100,000 rounds per minute and a 10,000 round high-capacity clip.

Oh, wait a minute, I just thought I was writing for the Miami Harald for a second.... Never mind.

 

[Polishrifleman]

It's an early Beretta and those gloves look dirty.

 

[nbkky71]

The only thing I can think of that comes close is the Mondragon rifle.

 

[strangelittleman]

Fedorov Automat ?

 

[Wheeler44]

That wouldn't be one of them Finn-Biathlons would it?

 

[Coronach]

It's either an automatic, or a straight-pull bolt-action. It does not look like the handle can rotate at all (just reciprocate), but the bolt seems designed to rotate to lock. The hands holding it (right hand holding the charging handle, seemingly back against spring tension, left hand forward, holding the rifle) are gloved, so I'm going to go with "rare, valuable, and not owned by Ian". Ian has very thoughtfully cropped the photo, so you cannot tell if there are peep sights to the rear of the rifle, but I'm going to guess not...seems a bit long of a section to the rear of the action to then have sights mounted out of view to the left. That means a barrel mounted sight, which spells "military" to me. However, the size is small (.22?) and no charger guide. There is wood covering the barrel (upper handguard?), which also says "military". There is a projection on the left of the receiver (above the receiver in the photo) that looks mauserish to me. There is a metal magazine visible on the bottom, but no charger guide? Hmm.

Does it take en blocs? Was there some semi-auto developed from the M95 Steyr, or something similar to it?

Mike

 

[Eightball]

My vote is still with the Ross. Or maybe the early remington semi-auto rifle thingys?

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

ha, great thread, Ian

 

[kingjoey]

However, the size is small (.22?)

It's not a .22 or similar, notice the locking lugs on the bolt.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

It's not a .22 or similar, notice the locking lugs on the bolt.

A .22 can have locking lugs on the front of the bolt, just most are the bolt handle.

 

[Ian]

"rare, valuable, and not owned by Ian"

Very true, extremely true, and unfortunately true. The photo was taken at a European museum (and not by me, sadly). I think Coronach has pretty well summed up everything you can get from that photo (although he's not 100% on his deductions/observations).

It is military (though not a Federov, Mondragon, early Beretta, Finn-Biathalon, or single-shot AT rifle). Here's another shot...this should clear up half the question, but maybe some bayonet guru can figure everything out from it.

 

[Coronach]

I think he's talking size. I tend to agree. The whole affair seems very slim, which makes me think small caliber. However, the locking lugs are beefy, as is (what I think is) the magazine. M95 Steyrs are pretty slender, too. I know it's not a M95, but it looks like it would be somethign like it. En bloc clips don't need a charger guide, which would explain its conspicuous absence on a seeming military rifle.

Or it could just be 100% experimental, which means it might not even have sights or other stuff we expect on a functional rifle.

Mike

 

[Coronach]

Oh ho ho ho.

Hmm.

Interesting. Gas capture mechanism, like the Bang Device?

Odd bayo lug. Is it moved out to allow-

Ok. It's sticking out like that to allow the use of the gas trap device and an existing Bayo.

The Kar43's unsuccessful brother? Hmmm. Hmm hmm hmm.

Mike

 

[squirrel sniper]

Is it a SVT-40

 

[arthurcw]

is it a tokarev rifle?

what I was thinking. But I fgiured if it was, someone would have guessed that by now.

 

[jonboynumba1]

I kno2w I've seen that action before but I can't think of where or when! I agree it's got to be an early semi or full auto. The metalwork looks very fine to me so it's probably German Austrian possibly an oddball Italian subgun? While the bolt handle looks nagant-like nothing else points towards com-block. The only other possible thing I canb think of is somehing very old and rare from sig sauer? Ifit was american or soviet I'd have seen it a lot....german I'd believe from the aparent machinework but doesn't ring a bell...I'd say it's swiss...it looks extremely hard to machine and too complicated. It also looks like something that probably works so that cancels the chance of it being some oddball Italian or French subgun-LOL

It's clearly not an svt 40 or 38 the clean machie work alone rules out soviet manufacture...it would have proof marks all over it on every known surface-LOL

 

[Coronach]

The Kar43's unsuccessful brother?

I'll answer my own question. No.

Mike

 

[GunTech]

Good puzzler. Did this rifle see wide service? or is it a one off curiosity?

 

[Cosmoline]

Some prototype model of one of the losers in the USSR competition that led to the SVT-38?

 

[Coronach]

I'm guessing experimental/limited production. This accounts for the rarity and the fragile-looking nature of the muzzle. Of course, experimental does NOT explain why it has a bayo lug. Maybe a T&E gun?

Mike

 

[arthurcw]

forgive my lack of brainage... T&E?

 

[squirrel sniper]

If you look at the picture, it looks like it has an internal mag. I'd guess it may be either a large bore smie-auto

 

[squirrel sniper]

Actually, the more i think about it, when the soviets creted the 7.62x39, they created a whole series of rifles to go with the AK. It may be a Prototype of the SKS, Especially because of the small opening in the reciever.

 

[JesseL]

It really looks like a Mannlicher design to me (based just on the contours, checkering, and other minor aesthetics), but I can't figure which one. I've seen a few hints online of a Mannlicher designed, semi-auto, gas operated, rifle from around 1895; but no pics to confirm it.

 

[doubleg]

FN-49!