"Would you take it into battle in WWI?" *Mae clutches rifle protectively* "NO, absolutely not. Not my baby." *hisss*

A gold Franc was exactly .2903g of fine gold so 79 was 22.934g = 0.737 troy ounces so it was worth $15.26 in 1905. That much gold is worth $951.17 today but $15.26 in 1905 dollars is only worth $375.80 today because gold has increased more in value more than other things, if that makes sense.

"It has everything I need from a long rifle: a short rifle!"

Thanks Guys!!! The rifle of our fore-fathers here in Greece. My granddad fought with this rifle in 5 wars!! An important part of history and a beautiful rifle!!

I don't get all these sleep comments. It's a European gun, so of course the video goes up at the perfect moment for us Euros to watch it on company time.

I'm a simple man, whenever I see '1903 Mannlicher-Schönauer' in the description I instantly press 'add to favourites'. Awesome work as always!

Re: price of 75 Gold Francs in today's money. Each Gold Franc was standardised at 0.0102408248 troy ounces gold content. Since France and most of the world was on the 'Gold Standard' at that time, all you have to do is multiply by 75 times (75 Gold Francs) at a Gold spot price of around $1288.52 (14th April 2017) which gives you a modern 'value' of about USD$988.12 per rifle (Give or take half a cent) at time of manufacture. Using an online USD inflation index calculator however, results in USD$150 (About 75 Gold Francs circa 1905) in as USD$4063.62 in 2016. Inflation calculator here: www.westegg.com/inflation/ Gold price calculator based on method outlined in this article: ask.metafilter.com/275442/Historical-Value-of-French-Franc-in-comparison-to-US-dollar

As a history nerd, I'd say this show does a pretty good job of mentioning the important parts of certain events without getting lost in 3 hours of background like is so easily possible. Not that I'd mind that, I just would have to quit my job and everything else to devote my time to watching youtube to keep up.

my grandmother's father fought the Turks and the Bulgarians with this gun,my grandfather fought the Italians and the Germans with this gun too,it is a part of our history

I got a sporterized greek Mannlicher Schoenauer with a stamp 1914 on the left side of the chamber from my grandfather. It was his first huntingrifle after the WWII. The rifle is still in a very good condition and i use it a lot. A friend of mine developed a custom made leadfree bullet for the rifle. After more the hundred years in use, it is still shoots 2-3cm groups on 100 meter. I just love it.

ΦΙΛΕ ΕΚΑΝΕΣ ΘΑΥΜΑΣΙΑ ΔΟΥΛΕΙΑ...ΣΕ ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΟΥΜΕ....ΝΑ ΕΙΣΑΙ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΚΑΛΑ....

Can I get "I can't believe it's not butter" with the Schönauer back ground t shirt

This one was excellant. Worth the brain freeze for sure

I don't know much about firearms but from watching several dozen of these videos i can conclude that carbines = always better

Mannlicher-Shonauer commercial rifles and carbines are finest rifles ever built so I imagine the military ones are the best in their bracket ,the 6.5 x 54 cartridge is an awesome round that very few people know about.

I completely concur with your opinion on the Mannlicher Schoauer. I don't have a 1903 but I do have a model 1952. It's mechanically identical down to the wonderful rotary magazine...with the addition of double set triggers...and all the surfaces are jeweled. Smooth and slick do not even begin to describe it.

I think it's interesting how the countries that adopted the advanced 6.5mm cartridges usually neglected to adopt spitzer bullets. I hope your ceiling is ok. The gun shop I used to work at had a low ceiling and we had a dent or two in our ceiling too.

There were some out there obviously but it’s odd picturing a “Mannlicher” without the usual en bloc clip magazine. The rotary mag is so cool!

Just a small issue but, in the description you mention the book "Τα όπλα των Ηλλινων". The correct spelling should be "Τα όπλα των Ελλήνων". Thanks for the episode.

"They didn't want to spend much money because they didn't have much." Some things just don't change...

Thanks so much for the excellent review. It was very detailed and shared information I have not heard before. May's comments from the range were excellent. As a Greek American I know a fair amount about the MS 1903, it was a high quality and often overlooked firearm. One thing were I think the Greeks missed a bet-rather than have an overlong rifle and a shorter carbine, they should have commonized on a 24-25 inch barrel like the Springfield 03-A3 or the German Mauser from WW2 timeframe. The long MS 1902 rifle was bulky and awkward to use in the trenches and really didn't offer any more workable range than a medium length rifle and the latter could have served the needs of a carbine. Since gun-drilling of barrels was probably THE most costly part of the manufacture process, shorter barrels make a great deal of sense from a cost perspective. As for Phil-Phil, he was a firearms genius whose ideas got way-laid by circumstances. I can't believe his concepts didn't work well in the prototypes, sounds like the tests were 'fixed' to me. One final comment-I never understood why the Greeks accepted a straight out bolt handle like that, it would have been awkward to operate and the handle would have gotten caught on everything. Certainly not a 'mad minute' capable like the British Enfield. Thoughts?

I really appreciate it, thanks alot for giving us this wonderful content and giving me something to enjoy during my lunch break!

The episodes just get better and better thanks for all your hard work!

"Nein weg Joseph"!!!! You just make 'em up as you go along don't you Othias? Priceless!!!!

I gotta say, I love those little War Were Declared bits. They always make me laugh.

When Mae is working that bolt on that first rifle it looks pretty rubbery definitely reminds me of a Mosin

really nice review man , thanks for keeping it authentic . music and all

This was a great episode, great work Thanks for sharing

I would agree with Mae on taking all of the Mannlicher-Shönauer rifles into WW1. They are my favorite as well.

Εταιρία (Ελληνικού) Πυριτιδοποιείου και Καλυκοποιείου, με τα αρχικά ΕΕΠΚ ή ΕΠΚ. Company (Hellenic) Gunpowder factory and Cartridge factory, with the initials EEPK or EPK.

And just when I thought, gee another gewehr88 knock-off, you guys just keep coming up with the goodies. Great shooting Mae

Thank you so much for this fine historic vid of a greate gun. The hours of work put down here, thank you so much again,and thanks to Mae too, I could not NOT notice her entusiasm about this precious gun.

As for why ÖWG was able/allowed to produce carbines for the 1930 Greek contract (0:48:15), in spite of Versailles restrictions, I suspect that this was because carbines were not seen as prime military weapons, but something of a paramilitary/police weapon. Note that post-WWI Germany also fiddled around with labels as to what was carbines and what was rifles to skirt some of the restrictions imposed at Versailles.

Thank you guys for the fantastic video on the most iconic rifle of the greek army ,you are awesome

Loved the video. You 2 look like you are having a lot of fun doing this and your research is great. :-)

I picked up a 1903/14/27 a few years ago and love it! So I've been looking forward to this episode for a while. If only the Swedish 1896 had made it to war, since I slightly prefer that cartridge, but the 6.5MS is great to shoot!

I wish I could offer sound and specific sources/data for this, but my experience in dealing with French francs in the time-period in question is that the American dollar in 1905 was worth about five francs, give or take pennies. A gold franc was technically worth the same as any other franc, but obviously had the perk of being a gold coin and so superior for all transactions as it didn't need any provenance. In general, I think, one will find that the Franc was worth about 20 cents of the American dollar in most all applications, especially the purchasing power of gold. So in effect, your Greek rifle was about fifteen American Dollars in 1905. That seems a bit hefty for sure, since I have the impression that Uncle Sam was spending around five dollars American for a Springfield 1903. That said, I am working off memory but perhaps it is enough for you and your's to work off?

What an amazing channel. A true history lesson, thank you for your investing that much time into your episodes. It truly reflects. Now, I am Greek and looking everywhere to buy a 1903 Mannlincher, would you happen to know anyone who sells one? @C&Rsenal I would really like to bring back home one of these absolute beauties...

You are both very fortunate to have each other!

Those carbines have a sexy profile. Not too skinny, not too fat. Contoured well, just too straight of a grip for my tastes.

I always look forward to new episodes

Another fantastic video.Well done.

great upload guys. thanks

Πολύ καλή παρουσίαση μπράβο στην εκπομπή σας,Δόξα και τιμή στα όπλα και στον Ελληνικό Στρατό

That rotary magazine design is pretty slick.

Great review. My Dad brought home 4 long rifles and 1short rifle of these Greek M&S sorry to say he gave them away .Only 1 that was turn into a sorter. It was a great deer rifle.I was mad that he dident save me one.

The recap was perfect. It prepared me to keep up with you in this very interesting journey through the development of personal firearms. Good work. Cartridge fountains . . . hehehe "1000 Quatloos says the humans are untrainable and must be destroyed!" Rare wisdom . . .

I had no idea something like this existed. Thank you for sharing.

Man, I need to buy one of these guys. I am in love.

nice videos guys, i am always amazed how much effort you put in your content

A great presentation, indeed. As can be inferred from many other comments, the Mannlicher-Schönauer is an important part of Greek martial history. One of my grandfathers used it for the first time to fight Bulgarians and Germans in 1918 during WWI, and he (and other relatives) used it many times after that. My only objection concerns the host’s remark about the comparison with Mannlicher-Carcano (around 31:00), which was easier to produce: it implies that, by choosing such a high-end rifle, Greece did actually forgo domestic production; but at the time Greece (and Romania, which is also mentioned) lacked the industrial capacity to produce any rifle, however complicated or not its design was. Even the Phillipides rifle would have been produced abroad (most probably at Steyr by OWG, only that, as Othais correctly observed, OWG was not interested in selling any rifle, but the Mannlicher-Schönauer specifically).

Amazing job guys! Both technically and historically

"No language I can't ruin." I mean you did manage to mispronounce 'Lithgow' in the SMLE episode

I heard from a guy of Greek ancestry that the word "Gras" and "rifle" were interchangeable well into the 20th century esp. in the countryside..

I have this rifle and trying to find some information for ages, luckily Forgotten Weapons helped me to see this video. Thanks to you both, cheers.

Just became a patron; what a nice reward.

Now I want a Gyro but Philly's doesnt open till noon. Thanks Big O!

I swear you guys always do this to me..... turn over to go to sleep...... notification of new post...... it's midnight...... it's an hour long..... I have work in the morning...... but it's.... ok I can stay up another hour....

Just got a breda 1903/14-27 for $75 in yard sale. Sadly stock cut as a sporter :,(

Συγκινήθηκα ρε φίλε

"Nein way, Joseph." Yeah, took me a moment to figure that one out.

Hi, Great triple-Phill; of the Greek Manlickers! . Good work on the complicated Greek history and Politics. Never seen that cool rotary mag before. Thanks.

Great another gun I need to add to my list of future collection... This is getting expensive ... Love the videos keep it up

front band and foresight reminds me of a carcano great video guys

This is a Great Channel!!! I Like!!!

Really like your videos. It's good to see the rifles from the pre/ during smokeless powder stage as everybody knows about Mauser 98, Enfield no 4, k31 etc I do think May needs to shoot them at a slightly longer range to really see what they capabilities in accuracy are... but please keep doing what you are doing.

This is quite an oddball of a rifle in terms of ww1 rifles. Its pretty cool. I can see this as a great trench sniper being very effective especially with the 6.5mm with a long barrel. Like the type 38 im thinking there would be minimal if any muzzle flash.

i was going to go to bed at a reasonable time, get up early and be productive. I guess that can wait.

I love your channel and am developing an serious affection for Mae, the funeral dirge at the beginning is just depressing.

Love them , I have the Greek 03-14-27 MANNLICHER Schonauer in 6.5 x54 and also the Model 1952 Austrian MANNLICHER Schonauer in Winchester.270 , both are in excellent condition ! PS. Thanks for the video 👍

So if one of these jams will putting Windex on it fix the issue? Joking aside, nice video. I've been looking forward to this video for a while because I picked up a Mannlicher Schönauer carbine and had no clue about any of its history. I still have no idea what the history behind my particular Mannlicher Schönauer is but at least I now know about the rifle's general history. Thank you for all your hard work, looking forward to the next episode.

That rifle is gorgeous

I'm a huge fan of WW1, with the military technology, the scope of the battles, and the rise and fall of world powers. I also used to play a WW1 Role Play game on Gary's Mod, and rose through the ranks to command the Central Powers forces, as well as managing the whole game server. I was always trying to get the game developers to create more authentic arms and player models. (I was so triggered when the German Empire was armed with the Kar98K, with the incorrect bolt handle and sights.) I always directed the developers to watch this video series, as well as "The Great War" and "Forgotten Weapons", to understand what was expected in the arms and uniform designs. My all time favorite is still the M95 Mannlicher, since I usually played as an Austro-Hungarian infantry officer, or the Kar88 when I played as an artillery officer. One thing I love about alot of these old rifles is the colors and grain patterns in the wooden stocks. That's one thing that will never be a discussion in 100 years when talking about AKs, ARs, etc.

Just won a 1903-14 carbine on GB, Mae's favorite. Supposedly chambered in 7x57, I'll find out when it arrives. Bore looks pretty good. Co-incidently, my FFL buddy has a Breda 1927 sporter for sale. It's nicely done, full stock, scoped with a nice 1.5-4 Leupold, left side mounted safety. It appears to be chambered in 7x57 though is not marked as such, at least it will chamber that round.

I like the short one also!

that rotary mag is so cool!

Weird that they didnt look at the 1898. They were focusing only on the 93.

I just knew Mae was going to love that carbine!

Great video! The choice of the greek songs was very good also. Just a small correction regarding the description: the book's name should be "Τα Όπλα των Ελλήνων"

After all 3 your Mannlicher straight-pull episodes I just had to go buy a M95/30 at the gun show. After watching these last two episodes I'm convinced that Steyr has to be my favorite manufacturer from that time period and I have to find a Mannlicher-Schönauer now. I hope they aren't ungodly expensive now but I'm sure they are, unfortunately. I don't care though, I have to collect more of these Steyr rifles, I'm hooked!

Good stuff as always

13:24 "Perfect! Works every time."

The Clip is an original Hirtenberg, GR clips are more similar to Mauser Clips. In fact exactly with the Hirtenberg clips are the "dum-dum", ammo which were presented by "Carnegie Examination" in 1914, with photo etc. , about 2nd Balkan war in the summer of 1913. This is the best way to explain the character of the Greek soldiers & officers and their "human" way of fighting.

well here's another episode to rewatch 9 times :)

6.5x54ms is the best cartridge for hunting anything South of a grizzly bear! 160grs flat shooting solid bullets!

2024: I currently have four (4) of the Y1903 family. One is a non-fiddled rifle, the other three are questionable they may have been carbines, but all are short versions now. I know one had been cut prior to my possession. Of the three short arms, two have had barrels so worn the bullets I tested would not seriously engage the rifling, resulting in tumbling rounds from lack of stabilization. I have had one barrel replaced and am considering the other. Hopefully, the third 'fiddled' one will be intact enough. Note, the fiddling seems to be well considered, well executed and finished. Not reminiscent of monkeys and dull spoons. A couple of them are Breda made. Over all, I find them delightful. The cartridge is quite sufficient for North American game. Whereas I would prefer a larger caliber for dangerous bears, frankly I have no reason to challenge a bear. I am delighted you approve of this action and construction.

Thank you

I must have one of those carbines! I had a MS commercial full stock in 8x56ms, sold it after spending a ton on getting cases and dies made. But the carbine, oh yes! Bought a 1903/14 Breda 1927 Carbine last night. Seller originally said it was an 8mm, then amended it to be a 7mm. I'll find out when it gets here.

funded. keep up the great work 👍

A great video you guys. Now I know what to look for when I come across these rifles.

I would be interested to see the results. I have not been able to get my hands on any Hornady 160 RN to load up and try. I did find 2 boxes of vintage German made sporting ammo some time back, but neither was exactly the military profile either. (Although closer, and to my experience a bit smoother than the PPU).

Another great episode. My only complaint about the series is that the episodes are too far apart; "We covered that in the last episode" means I have to go back to refresh my short-term memory. Maybe I should wait until you're finished, and binge watch... Thank you for the great content.

Greece buying this gun is pretty much the equivalent if they decided to replace their current G3‘s with scar heavies lol

Othias, I have a Breda made 1903/14 action (which is to be made up into a deer rifle) and yes it has on the crest the marking "1903/14" but is marked "Breda 1927" on the side of the receiver. Perhaps that was on the full size rifle rather than the carbine? No, I didn't cut up a rifle to get the action - I just bought it that way.

Othais, you mentioned that we'll see some more of those Austro-Hungarian gun requisitions at the beginning of WW1... Do I smell a 1912 Mauser?

"There is no language I can't ruin." lol I feel ya Othais, I feel ya

I bought my 1903/14 not too long ago sadly its missing the rear sight and the stock is cut up but i did only pay 367 bucks all in all for it, right now I'm on the lookout for a unmolested stock and a rear sight. Love you're show just subscribed a couple weeks ago. I love your passion for historic arms and the amount of research you do. Thank you for the great content.

So much for getting to bed early for once

another 1 hour 5.40.well spent Thanks.

very strange the fact , that this great rifle was only adopted from only one army. the modern day persons testing it on the video, , look really satisfied from it's results . greetings from greece .