These pages contain a few photos and accompanying text that illustrate some conditions I have encountered while working on the straight-pull bolt used in the Austro-Hungarian M1890 & M1895, Bulgarian M1895 & M1895S, Austrian M1895/30, and Hungarian 1931M straight-pull rifle, stutzen, & carbine. All of these weapons use the Mannlicher straight-pull bolt mechanism. The conditions described frequently lead to difficult bolt operation and/or failure of the spring-loaded bolt head to operate as designed. Included are also a few tips to remedy these conditions.
Although these weapons have two stage triggers, they will typically have a very heavy second-stage. I have measured a few and found them to be on the order of 6 to 9 pounds! I have also discovered a means to lighten the heavy trigger pull. This is accomplished by replacing the sear spring with a spring having a lighter spring rate (k).