Berdan Rifle from Ethiopia

Mentioned this on a Carcano thread but figured it might better belong here although it's pre-Soviet.

Royal Tiger imports has a few Berdan rifles from Ethiopia. As this is one of the few major powers early cartridge rifles I don't have I didn't really hesitate ordering one although I hate this type of thing. Just can't find one and on the rare occasions I have, the price was ridiculous. These aren't cheap at $500 but cheaper than I've seen one in any condition sell for.

It's currently ready to ship but hasn't shipped yet.

Wish me luck. Mixed bag from these guys. The bayonet No 5 I ordered was in decent shape, wrong scabbard but that's easily fixed.

Good luck, I suspect the rifle will have a lot of character to it. I personally like a bit of character, but too much can be a problem.

Pics when you get it...you'll need substantial clean up once it's home I imagine.

Photos actually haven't looked too bad. Course it could be the only good one in the lot. I like cleaning rifles so no big deal. I've heard they have dead bugs inside which could be interesting.

On a more interesting note, I can't find ammo information for this anywhere. Are they so uncommon that not even buffalo arms is making cartridges?

Could be a wall hanger for sure.

Scheduled for delivery by end of day on Friday. Exciting.

berdan rifle, there were two versions made in Russia. so any ammunition information is going to be almost non existent.

This is the Berdan II the one adopted in large numbers for Russia. Developed by an American. The cartridge data is available, it's 10.75×58 mmR and there is some discussion about reloading for them on various message boards. Doesn't appear anyone actually makes them however. Buffalo Arms may from time to time but I can't find it on their website at present.

It came, I just took it out of the box. I'm pretty stoked, this is a nice rifle. It does have one problem, the rear sight fell off. It was weird as I looked at the butt stock first at that's the way it came out of the box, then I flipped it and looked at the muzzle were I could see both rifling and dirt. Started working my way down the barrel liking what I'm seeing and then this big bare area with what looks like silver solder. OMG, NO REAR SIGHT, HOW DID THEY MISS THAT. Thinking I'm going to have to try and get a replacement, I look at the box and figure what the heck. Dumped it out and there it is, nice as can be. The stock has no cracks I can see, it is a little shrunk around the butt plate but this isn't unusual. The metal has a lot of the original finish but there is one area directly in front of the rear sight that looks like it was polished. There are Ethiopian stamps there. The stock also has a lot of slightly oval punches in it that are about a quarter inch round. Ethiopian soldier probably did it as some sort of decoration. I'm just getting home from work and need to clean myself up before I do much more with this but I'm happy. Looked it the bore and it has very strong rifling. Also a lot of dirt. No bugs that I can see. Whether it is pitted or not I can't tell yet but if it is it isn't bad. Everything appears to work, nothing missing but the cleaning rod but I was expecting that. I may find more issues with cleaning but I feel I got a good deal in any case. Photos will come so don't ask, just not now or likely today. I want to clean this first.

Couldn't stand it, ran something through the bore. No pitting I can see, very strong rifling and it's pretty bright. A correction on the finish however, probably not a lot of original on it, what I'm seeing is "patina". There is some light pitting on the exterior in spots. They did probably use a wire wheel on it to clean it which is dumb but I shouldn't have any problems blending that in.

A little disappointed. It's cleaned already. Took about an hour. Very little rust, no pitting below the wood line. Just the light pitting on the exterior exposed wood. Stock is not the prettiest but I've opted to not do a deep clean on it.

There are a few missing items. The cleaning rod which I noted earlier, the sling swivel in front of the trigger, and the barrel sling swivel. The Ethiopians apparently used leather rings through holes in the wood as one of them is still on the rifle. And finally, the rear sight slide.

The stock has shrunk a fair amount over the years. The tang screw will not tighten fully and the butt plate is way oversized. There is a gap in the top also. It's dated 1880 but can't read the other stuff yet.

I took before photos and these are them. This is straight out of the box, I did nothing except set the rear sight where it belongs. The grease held it in place.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../4WfCUOh-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../u54grT0-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Qem0TnF-1.jpg


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../4lAG6ve-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../6LQx7vi-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../uRnNX43-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../JcY3Cvu-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../0H6tAjv-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../5a5008v-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../KjrhNTv-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../3y3wIIk-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../FwgpQf8-1.jpg

I've read these were issued to levies sent out to defend Moscow in 1941. IIRC they used to call the PTRD "Farewell Motherland", but who'd want one of these, with black powder cartridges to boot.

Finished cleaning it. Soldiered the rear sight back on, just put some flux on it clamped it and melted it back in place with the existing material that was still there. Stock just has been wiped/polished with linseed oil to get the gunk off and some light steel wool for the persistent stuff. The exposed metal was pretty much all wire wheeled to some extent I decided so I cold blued it to get it back to near where the untouched areas are. Bore also cleaned out but I can never successfully take photos of that.

One thing bugs me and it's the butt plate. I don't like that it extends beyond the base by a good bit. Thinking of filing it back to match the wood line. Opinions on that?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../8NklzM9-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Q6UvODi-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../QnYH0sT-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../HTU7O8g-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../GF7gFhP-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../tlzHAgt-1.jpg

I like it! Wonder if there are any more?

It cleaned up pretty well! Did the stock swell up any after you hydrated it with the linseed oil?

Royal Tiger had 14 left as of yesterday. I do not see the stock swelling yet. I have hopes but I doubt that the little bit I'm rubbing in will do much.

13 available as of today. I did manage to find out the round/oval punches are common on these. Another fellow has one with brass rings still embedded in the stock. Not sure what they are. This is an Sestroretsk Arsenal rifle which is the least common of the Russian made rifles. Everyone that is communicating on these is reporting they are all wire wheeled, so if ordering one, expect it.

I think a few came out of Spain, like 1960?? Ammo always hard to find. You will see them at the big gunshows. Not big sellers at all. The Berdan I is rare or is the Berdan II the rare bird. Not sure. Likely ammo is still in Mother Russia, not coming this way anytime soon.

I got some accessories for it yesterday. Ordered an 8 pack of fired bullets from Russia. they remind me of the Civil War bullets you see for sale only of a caliber about half the size. Just thought they were neat and the price was right. Guy probably has an old range in his back yard.

Fascinating, this is my introduction to these rifles. Thanks Aragorn243

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0ivCTSTkzU