Colt-Berdan I: Russia's First Military Cartridge Rifle
The Colt-Berdan Model 1868, or Berdan I, was Russia's first military rifle to adopt a centerfire metallic cartridge, specifically the .42 Berdan. Designed by Hiram Berdan, it featured a unique rear-mounted striker and a lifting breech block, differing from US Trapdoor Springfields. Though Colt produced 30,000 units, it was quickly superseded by the Berdan II, making surviving examples rare.









