Philippidis rifle

Philippidis rifle
The only surviving Philippidis rifle prototype is held by a Greek collector in the United States
Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	Austria-Hungary Kingdom of Greece
Service history
Used by	Kingdom of Greece (intended)
Production history
Designer	Philippos A. Philippidis
Designed	1905
Manufacturer	Steyr, Breda
Produced	1925 (approved)
Specifications
Cartridge	6.5×54mm Mannlicher–Schönauer
Action	Bolt action

The Philippidis rifle is a bolt-action rifle designed by Philippos A. Philippidis in 1905.

History

The weapon was chosen instead of the Greek-designed Philippidis gun ('Οπλον Φιλιππίδου), itself based on an earlier model by the same Austrian manufacturer, after intense lobbying against the Greek design in 1905. This caused a serious political crisis, with accusations about "national treason" heard in the Greek Parliament. ^[1] The Philippidis gun was officially approved for production in 1925, but again, the Mannlicher–Schönauer was produced (by Breda in Italy), due to (reportedly) late submission of the Greek designs to the Italian manufacturer and/or cost factors. ^{[1] [2]}

Two prototypes of the Philippidis rifle

References

1. L.S. Skartsis, Greek Vehicle & Machine Manufacturers 1800 to Present: A Pictorial History, Marathon (2012) ISBN   978-960-93-4452-4 (p. 222)
2. Christos Sazanidis, Ta Opla ton Ellinon (Arms of the Greeks), Maiandros, Thessaloniki (1995)