Museum-weapons

Steyr Mannlicher M1895

It’s time! It's Friday! It’s time to look at some Firearms!

For this week’s Firearm Friday, We at Owen Guns care deeply about the tragedy at Bondi Beach and do not, and never will, condone violence, firearms in our community are used for lawful sporting purposes, which is what they are intended for.

We're taking a moment to step away from the negative media attention surrounding straight-pull rifles and provide some context. These firearms have been part of military, sporting, and civilian shooting history for well over a century, having been purposefully designed and widely used in those roles long before today’s discussions.

The Steyr M95 is a remarkable military rifle that represents both innovative firearm engineering and the final chapter of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Officially adopted in 1895, the M95 was developed by Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft in Steyr and was intended to modernize the empire’s infantry at a time when European armies were rapidly transitioning to smokeless powder and repeating rifles.

The rifle was issued in several configurations, including full-length infantry rifles, short rifles, and carbines for cavalry and support troops, reflecting the diverse needs of a vast, multi-ethnic army. Its widespread adoption made it one of the most recognizable small arms of the Austro-Hungarian forces during World War I.

One of the defining characteristics of the Steyr M95 is its straight-pull bolt-action mechanism. Unlike traditional turn-bolt rifles, the M95’s bolt could be operated by pulling it straight to the rear and pushing it forward, allowing for quicker follow-up shots and a smoother manual of arms once mastered.

This design, combined with a relatively short bolt throw, gave soldiers the potential for a higher rate of fire than many contemporary rifles. The M95 also utilized Ferdinand Mannlicher’s en-bloc clip system, which held five rounds and was inserted directly into the magazine. After the final round was fired, the empty clip dropped out through an opening in the bottom of the rifle, an efficient but sometimes controversial feature, especially in muddy or debris-filled environments.

Originally chambered in the 8×50mmR Mannlicher cartridge, the M95 delivered respectable ballistic performance for its era, though advancements in ammunition soon rendered it somewhat outdated. In the years following World War I, many rifles were refurbished and rechambered for the more powerful 8×56mmR cartridge, easily identifiable today by an “S” marking on the receiver.

These updated rifles extended the service life of the M95 well into the 1930s and 1940s, seeing use with the armed forces of Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and other successor states, as well as limited service during World War II.

Beyond its technical features, the Steyr M95 carries significant historical weight. It was carried by soldiers fighting in some of the most challenging theaters of World War I, from the frozen Carpathian Mountains to the steep, unforgiving terrain of the Italian Alps. Today, the M95 is valued by collectors and historians for its distinctive straight-pull action, robust construction, and connection to a vanished empire.

While it may not be as universally recognized as rifles like the Mauser Gewehr 98 or the Mosin-Nagant, the Steyr M95 remains an important and underappreciated milestone in the evolution of military firearms.

At Owen Guns we forever hope that by sharing history, facts, and context, we aim to promote education, responsibility, and respect. Honoring the long-standing sporting and historical role of firearms while clearly rejecting violence in all forms.