The Berdan rifle () is a single-shot rifle created by American engineer and inventor Hiram Berdan in 1868. It was the service rifle of the Imperial Russian Army from 1870 when it replaced the Krnka to 1891, when it was replaced by the Mosin–Nagant rifle. The gun was widely used in Russia as a hunting weapon, and sporting variants, including shotguns, were produced until the mid-1930s. The Russian Berdan I (M1868) and Berdan II (M1870) rifles of .42 caliber are distinct from the Spanish Berdan conversion rifles adopted by Spain as the M1857/67 Berdan (and related engineer, artillery & short rifles).
Berdan I
Two different versions of the later single-shot Berdan rifle were adopted as service weapons by Imperial Russia. The first version, manufactured by Colt in the US, is known as model 1868, or Berdan I. It is a hammerless "trapdoor" breechblock design, and was manufactured in limited numbers (the contract stipulated 30,000) as a full-length infantry rifle. Colt also manufactured a few half-stock Berdan I cavalry carbine prototypes, but these were never adopted for Russian service. Colt even produced a few target rifles based on the Berdan I.
Berdan II
The model 1870, or Berdan II, is a single-shot bolt-action with a distinctive short, pear-shaped bolt handle. The bolt handle serves as the only locking lug for the action, and when closed, points upwards at a 30-degree angle, rather than horizontally. The Berdan II was produced in four variants: an infantry rifle, the lighter and slightly shorter
Dragoon rifle, a
Cossack rifle with a button trigger and no trigger guard, and a cavalry
carbine. Infantry and dragoon rifles were issued with quadrangular socket bayonets. Initial production of the Berdan II was at Birmingham Small Arms in England. The rifles were later manufactured in large numbers by Russian factories at Tula,
Izhevsk, and
Sestroretsk. Estimated total production of all models is over 3 million. The rifle was known for its accuracy, simplicity and reliability.
Cartridge
The 10.7×58mmR cartridge used in the Berdan was also invented by Hiram Berdan, with the assistance of Russian colonel . It was the subject of many patents in both the United States and United Kingdom. The bottleneck cartridge case used the Berdan primer, its first use in a small arms cartridge. Cartridges were issued in blue paper packets of six rounds each. In addition to the regular cartridge for rifles, a special cartridge was manufactured for use in the cavalry carbine. It consisted of the same cartridge case and bullet, but with a lighter powder charge of only 4.5 grams, and was issued in six round pink paper packets. At the time of its use, the 10.75×58mmR (4.2 line) cartridge was known for its power and accuracy.
Later usage
No magazine-fed versions of the Berdan ever progressed beyond the prototype phase. Russian troops, however, did have various cartridge holders, such as the Krnka quick-loader, attached to their rifles to aid in reloading. By the late 1880s Russia began the process of replacing the Berdan with a high velocity and magazine fed rifle, and this resulted in the adoption of the Mosin–Nagant. In 1892, a batch of 3,004 Berdan II rifles were converted to 7.62×54mmR for Russian service by arms makers in Belgium.
These rifles have new barrels and sights, and new bolts with a front locking lug and longer bolt handle.
Had the conversion been deemed fit for service, an additional 40,000 were to be converted. However this did not go through.
Sporting rifles and shotguns were re-manufactured in Russia from surplus rifles after the Mosin–Nagant was adopted into service, often referred to as "Frovlovka"[Карабинъ системы Бердана русской работы // «Каталогъ ружей и принадлежностей охоты на 1898/99 годъ. Торговый домъ Я. Зимина вдова и Ко». Москва, 1898. стр.66][Юрий Максимов. Просто берданка // «Мастер-ружьё», № 12 (141), 2008, стр.36-41]
Markings
Markings on the Berdan rifle usually consist of the
Russian Empire double-headed eagle cypher on the top receiver flat. The manufacturer's name in Cyrillic, date of manufacture, and rifle serial number, are on the top of the barrel. Some rifles also show a date of manufacture on the receiver. The serial number was also applied to the bolt. Additional proof marks and property markings are found on the receiver and barrel. There is a factory cartouche on the right side of the buttstock.
Comparison with contemporary rifles
Users
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: Acquired a small batch of Berdan №1 rifles in 1877 and were in service until 1881.
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: Captured rifles were used in WW1. The receivers were marked "AZF" by Artilleriezeugsfabrik & had sling slots added to the stock. Some were converted to as well.
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Kingdom of Bulgaria: At least 30,000 Berdan №2 rifles and 10 million rounds were bought from Russia for the Bulgarian army.
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: The Russian Empire sent 30,000 Berdan rifles to Ethiopia before the First Italo-Ethiopian War. Some were hand-modified into carbines
[Г. В. Цыпкин, В. С. Ягья. История Эфиопии в новое и новейшее время. М.: «Наука», 1989. стр. 111]
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: Limited usage during the Winter War
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: During the Franco-Prussian War, France purchased 5,760 Berdan №1 rifles & 63,000 Spanish M1857/67 models.
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: A Cossack unit was formed and provided Berdans from the Czar.
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: At least 3,000 rifles were received from Russia
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: Received 30,000 Berdan №2 and 15 million cartridges in 1895.
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Russian Empire: Both the Berdan №1 and Berdan №2 were used by guard units in the Russian Army during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. Russian forces, although ultimately victorious, were badly mauled by the very long range fire from Turk Peabody–Martini rifles during the Siege of Plevna. After the war a long-range auxiliary sight was adopted and retrofitted to the Berdan II infantry rifle. The Berdanka, as it was called, continued on in Russian service even after the adoption of the Mosin–Nagant, primarily with reserve and rear echelon units when the Mosin-Nagant became plentiful. Many Russian troops had Berdan rifles in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. During World War I, some Russian second line, training and service units were armed with the Berdan II.
[" Во время первой мировой войны царская Россия испытывала недостаток в стрелковом вооружении, поэтому в армии кроме винтовок русского образца были также и иностранные - японские Арисака обр.1897 и 1905 гг., австро-венгерские Манлихера 1889 и 1895 гг., германские "88" и "98". Кроме этих винтовок использовались также и устаревшие образцы, стрелявшие патронами, снаряженными дымным порохом - Бердана № 2 образца 1870 г., Гра 1874 г., Гра-Кропачека 1874/85 г., Веттерли 1870/87 г."]
А. Б. Жук. Энциклопедия стрелкового оружия: револьверы, пистолеты, винтовки, пистолеты-пулеметы, автоматы. М., АСТ — Воениздат, 2002. стр.587 It is common to see Berdan rifles in photos of street fighting taken during the Russian Revolution of 1917.
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Kingdom of Serbia in 1890 received 76,000 rifles as military aid. They saw service in the Balkan Wars and the First World War
[Бранко Бранкович. Стрелковое оружие Сербии и Черногории в годы Первой мировой войны // журнал «Оружие», № 4, 2014. стр.1-3, 56-62] in the hands of Serbian soldiers of the 3rd class (men over 50 years old).
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: Purchased 8900 Berdan I for trials in 1869, but were replaced in favour of the Vetterli rifle soon after.
See also
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Berdan Sharps rifle
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List of Russian weaponry
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Table of handgun and rifle cartridges
External links
