Gene,

The Carpatinian mountains, then in the heart of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire were a favourite stalking ground for Imperial and noble hunters who often favoured light single shot stalking rifles for hunting that might involve a lot of uphill climbing.

If in break open configuration they were and are known as kipplauf.

I am not sure if they were known at the time as Carpathian rifles, or whether that is a term coined by modern auctioneers.

I suspect that the Reilly would have started life as either a .303 or possibly a .256 Mannlicher (6.5 x53R) before being relined or bored out to 7x57R.

The Holland and Holland you show is similar to one in .303 now in The Guards Museum, that was fitted with a scope by Holland’s and given to the Irish Guards. Their RSM used it to deadly effect on the Western Front in 1915.

Last edited by Parabola; 11/25/21 05:24 PM.