Spanish Military Black-Powder Breech Loading Rifles

Spanish military black-powder breech loading rifles

After the Austro-Prussian or Six Weeks War Spain (like in other countries) adopted two systems for breech loading rifles, one to convert oldMinié rifles (the Berdan), and the other to make new ones (the Remington). As in others countries, new rifles will be made by state factories (Oviedo small arms factory), but conversions could also beordered to private contractors (located in the Basque Country, in the Pyrenees). These converted arms were destined to arm second line army.

In 1866 a technical board (Junta Superior Facultativa)began testing for a conversion system (Peabody, Snider, Westley Richards, Berdan and Cornish). In 1867 the system designed by Hiram Berdan was adopted. Only the infantry rifle-musket ("fusil rayado parainfanteria modelo 1859") and the "chasseur", foot artillery and sapper rifle ("carabina* rayada modelo 1857 para cazadores, artilleria a pie y zapadores") were converted. These were known as "fusilmodelo 1867" and "carabina modelo 1867" respectively (sometimes with the word "transformado" added), and fired a 14.8 mm cartridge with Berdan metallic case.

Testing of a new small caliber riflebegan in 1868. Contestants were Berdan bolt action (similar to Russian), Wilson, Remington and the Spanish designed "Nunez de Castro" ** (a cross between the Peabody and Remington).

The 1868/78 decadewas an unrest period for Spain, and in this year a revolution expelled the queen Isabel II, but after a suspension, the board continued its work in 1869. The board preferred the Remington system, butthey didn't liked the offered caliber (.50-70 or perhaps .43 Egyptian) and asked for an 11 mm (like the Chassepot) cartridge with Berdan cartridge case (so the 11 mm Remington cartridge was born atthe request of Spanish ordnance board). Finally, after further testing the board decided for adoption of Remington in 1870, but a new contest was hold as prestigious general Antonio Ros de Olano (one...