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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Single Shots used in WWI ? (Read 6148 times)
Paul_F.
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Single Shots used in WWI ?
Jun 30th, 2007 at 12:29pm
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I'm trying to think of ways to drum up shooters for a "WWI Warhorse Match" I'm holding this November 11... The one basic rule is that rifles must have been used in combat by someone in WWI.  Well, at least be able to make the case that they conceivably could have been with a straight face.

Naturally, most of the ones on my "list" are turn bolts...
However... I know that for one, the Austrian Werndl was used by SOME troops during WWI.  (Probably someplace deep in Austria-Hungary, guarding an outhouse or some such...).


So it has me wondering...
What OTHER Single Shot rifles were used by combatants in WWI ?
I know around that time the Winchester Winder .22 Short was used... though not actually a combat rifle.

Any nation using Rolling Blocks in the Great War?

Curiosity unbound...
Paul F.
  
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DoubleD
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #1 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 1:44pm
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Martini's in MH  and ME were issued to home guard troops.  The MH was was used to bust balloons.
  

Douglas, Ret.
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #2 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 2:47pm
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there might have been some ss used in south america and well as the east african colonial campaigns----especially as issued to the native colonial troops.   Not sure what all were used in the middle eastern campaigns.  maybe I can check some of my sources and figure out a bit more.
  

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MartiniBelgian
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #3 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 4:00pm
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Comblains - the Belgian Home guard used Comblains in WWI against the german invader.
  
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #4 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 4:39pm
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Not exactly what you asked, but I believe that the Australian .310 Cadet rifle was used in the *second* world war.  At least, they manufactured FMJ ammunition for them in anticipation of a Japanese invasion (the .310 lead bullets apparently would have been a violation of the Hague Conventions or some such).

Oh, and don't forget the single shot "Liberator" pistol.

Doug
  
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singelshotman
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #5 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 5:12pm
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I have read that German M1871 Mauser 11mm single-shots were used to good effect in German East Africa, as that was all that they had, they had to capture all the modern arms that they needed-which they proceded to do.
  
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #6 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 5:58pm
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I'm thinking that the Brits used up a lot of their east indian colonial troops in their disasterous WW I era invasion of what is now Iraq.   I guessing they might have been equipped with Indian frontier singleshots.   MH?   Sniders????
  

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13Echo
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #7 - Jun 30th, 2007 at 8:54pm
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Well, the Germans did use a single shot turnbolt shoulder fired anti-tank rifle in combat on the Western front.  If you could find one I suppose it would qualify.

Jerry Liles
  
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DonH
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #8 - Jul 2nd, 2007 at 4:23am
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Sniders? Sniders RULE!
  
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #9 - Jul 2nd, 2007 at 9:01am
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Thomas Edward Lawremce wrote (in Revolt In The Desert) about arming the Arab tribesmen to fight against the Turks.  I can recall the delight of getting a Lewis gun and of the Stokes mortar,  but I'll have to re-read to see if there's mention of specific rifles.  I would imagine that since his was a diversionary role (to sap troops from being committed to the war in Egypt where General Allenby was) that the weapons provided were not best and finest, hence likely to be single shots.

  

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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #10 - Jul 11th, 2007 at 9:14am
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In panic at the start of the war, both France and Russia had Remington build rolling blocks for them, chambered for their service cartridges, namely the 8 Lebel and the 7.62x54R. 

I doubt these made it to the front lines. I've read the French distributed them to men well behind the lines, such as guards at various locations. I don't know if the Russian models were delivered before Russia exited the war, but I suspect they did, because examples were reported found in Vietnam in that later war.

Originals in these chamberings are rare, and at least some collectors feel it is not safe to fire service ammo in them.  They were, by far, the chamberings that most stressed the rolling block action.

There were a few .303 Brit models made for Canada well before the war, but I doubt they ever left Canada.
  

Karl
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Paul_F.
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Re: Single Shots used in WWI ?
Reply #11 - Jul 11th, 2007 at 11:48am
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<France and Russia had Remington build rolling blocks for them, chambered for their service cartridges, namely the 8 Lebel and the 7.62x54R.


Oooh... I want one of those Russian Rolling Blocks! (I promise, I'd only fire girly-loads in it! ). Oh well, probably too rich for me anyway... I'm sure any of 'em that exist other collectors are willing to pay more than I am (probably more than my life savings...).


Thanks to everyone for their input!
I hadn't even considered some of those... Like Sniders and Martini's.

Paul F.
  
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