Mauser-Koka

Serbian Model 1878/80 (Mauser-Koka)
Đurić M80/07C & Koka M78/80
Type	Service rifle
Place of origin	Kingdom of Serbia
Service history
In service	1881–1940s
Used by	Kingdom of Serbia
Wars	Serbo-Bulgarian War Balkan Wars World War I (limited) World War II (limited)
Production history
Designer	Kosta "Koka" Milovanović (Коста "Кока" Миловановић)
Designed	1880
Manufacturer	Mauser Zastava Arms
Developed from	Mauser Model 1871
Variants	See § Variants
Specifications
Mass	4.5 kg (9.92 lb)
Length	1,350 mm (53.15 in)
Barrel  length	855 mm (33.66 in)
Cartridge	Mauser-Koka M.78/80: 10.15×63mmR Mauser-Koka 1884 Carbine: 10.15×63mmR Mauser-Koka 1884 Carbine (Late 1930s conversion): 11×59mmR Gras Koka-Đurić M.80/07C: 7×57mm Mauser
Action	Bolt action
Muzzle velocity	1,680 ft/s (510 m/s)
Feed system	Mauser-Koka M.78/80: Single-shot Mauser-Koka 1884 Carbines: 5-round Tube magazine Koka-Đurić M.80/07C: 5-round Box magazine
Sights	Iron sights

The Mauser-Koka was a Serbian service rifle created in the late 19th century.

History

In 1880, Serbian Major Kosta "Koka" Milovanović (Коста "Кока" Миловановић) developed an updated version of the Mauser Model 1871, still single-shot, but chambered in its unique 10.15×63mmR cartridge. It had unique additions in that it had a bolt guide (much like the M1870 Italian Vetterli) and the "progressive rifling" that was developed by Koka. The Kingdom of Serbia adopted the rifle in 1880. ^[1] It was designated Serbian Model 1878/80, also known as Mauser-Koka, Mauser-Milovanović, ^[2] and known in Serbian as Kokinka (Кокинка). The grooves reduced in diameter from breech to muzzle. The muzzle velocity of the Mauser-Milanović was 1,680 feet per second (510 m/s). It saw first combat in the Serbo-Bulgarian War. Approximately 110,000 Mauser-Milovanović rifles entered the Serbian arsenal. It was further developed in 1907.

Variants

Mauser-Koka 1884

Cavalry Carbine

Artillery Carbine

The Mauser Models 1884 "Artillery & Cavalry Carbine" were produced in 1884 in 4,000 units each at the Oberndorf plant for the use of the Serbian cavalry and Artillery. ^[3] They were based on the M71/84 and had a five-round tubular magazine. ^[3] By 1914, only 126 Cavalry & 815 Artillery models were left in the military's possession. In 1937, all remaining Model 1884 carbines were converted to the 1870s vintage 11×59mmR Gras cartridge, which was in good supply in Yugoslav Army depots after the Balkan War. ^[4]

Mauser-Koka-Đurić

Đurić M80-07C bolt

Serbian armed with Đurić M80/07C Mauser

Starting 1907, about half of the Mauser-Koka inventory was converted in Kragujevac to shoot the 7×57mm from a 5-shot magazine; the new barrels were purchased from Steyr. An additional locking lug was added by milling the receiver on a lathe around 1mm, then heating the locking lug collar red-hot and fitting to the cold receiver. Both the old and new guns (designated M.80/07 or M.80/07 C) saw action in the Balkan Wars and World War I. The converted M80/07 are often referred to as "Đurić Mausers" (Ђурић-Маузер). ^[5] The M.80/07 C rifles captured from the Royal Yugoslav Army by the Nazi Germany during the World War II were designated Gewehr 223 (j), while surplus M.78/80 rifles that was still in storage were designated Gewehr 352 (j). ^[6]

See also

• Serbian Model 1899 ^[7]
• Serbian Model 1908 ^[8]
• Serbian Model 1910 ^[9]
• Yugoslavian Model 90 ^[10]
• Yugoslavian Model 03 ^[10]
• Yugoslavian Model 24 ^[11]
• Yugoslavian Model 24CK ^[12]
• Yugoslavian Model 24 Carbine ^[13]

References

1. Поповић, Оливера. "Заборављени конструктори српског оружја". Politika Online. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
2. Donald J. Stocker; Jonathan A. Grant (2003). Girding for Battle: The Arms Trade in a Global Perspective, 1815-1940. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 27–. ISBN   978-0-275-97339-1. Designated as Serbian Model 1878/80, but also known as the Mauser-Koka or the Mauser-Milanovic after the Serbian officer who ...
3. Ball 2011, pp. 311–312.
4. Ball 2011, pp. 313–314.
5. Ball 2011, p. 314.
6. Ball 2011, p. 425.
7. Ball 2011, pp. 312–313.
8. Ball 2011, pp. 317–318.
9. Ball 2011, pp. 318–320.
10. Ball 2011, pp. 320–321.
11. Ball 2011, pp. 321–324.
12. Ball 2011, pp. 323.
13. Ball 2011, pp. 326.

Sources

• Ball, Robert W.D. (2 August 2011). Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Gun Digest Books. pp. 311–314. ISBN   978-1-4402-1544-5.
• John Sheehan, 1 of 110,000. The Serbian M78/80 is one of the Rarest of Mauser Rifles", Guns magazine, May 2012, pp. 36-39
• Viktor Kovačević (August 1998). "KOKA POPRAVLJA MAUZERA". Srpsko nasleđe, Istorijske sveske, broj 8 (in Serbian). NIP „GLAS“. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2015.