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Winning Bid US $368 First bid $350 Quantity 1 # of bids 2 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Manufacture d'armes de Chatellerault, Model: MLE 1866 Chassepot, Cal: 11mm Needlefire, MFG: 1867, S/N: A29852, Bolt action single shot needle fire, 32 1/2'' barrel.

HISTORY: The Chassepot was the French answer to the Prussian Dreyse rifle that was causing devastating effects in Europe. Its famous for its use during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, where even though the French lost, it proved it was a far better rifle than the Dreyse. After the war Prussia noted that it was far more accurate by not using a paper sabot around the bullet like Dreyse, & had greater range due to better gas sealing. The French would even extend the sights on the Chassepot in later models because of its great range & accuracy compared to other rifles of its time. The Chassepot is known as one of the better if not the best needle-fire rifle made. The French would convert the Chassepot to a metallic cartridge gun in 1874 with Colonel Basile Gras system, & create the Gras rifle, which would go on to be used by the French clear until WW1. The French originally thought about making the Chassepot a metallic cartridge gun from the start. But with the complications of early cartridges, & logistic issues they decided on a paper cartridge. The manufacturer & model number on the left side of the receiver has been scrubbed off there is some mentions of this being done by the Germans to some rifles that were captured during the Franco-Prussian war but nothing concrete. Usually they would be marked with German unit markings or be modified to take a German bayonet. Lots of the captured rifles would be converted to the 11mm Mauser cartridge & turned into carbines for the Prussian cavalry.

CONDITION: The straight wrist walnut stock is good with various nicks, dings, dents, chips, & scratches from use/age. The right cheek of the stock does not have the usually roundel acceptance cartouche with a box wood plug in the middle, indicating that the stock was replaced after French service. The metal has worn to a gunmetal gray with brown patina speckling. The receiver band is marked with a small proof mark on each side & what appears to be a French script ''de''. The right rear section of the receiver has a ''2''. The left rear side of the barrel is marked with the S/N, ''D'', ''F'' in circle, & ''L'' in circle. The right rear of the barrel is marked ''C.1867'', ''MI'', small ''C'' under crown in a oval proof, star over ''E'', & three more small proofs. The ''C.1867'' means the barrel was made at Chatellerault in 1867. The ''MI'' means ''Manufacture Imperiale'', this was marked on all guns before & during the Franco-Prussian war for Napoleon the Thirds Rain. The Guns made after Frances defeat in the war are marked ''MA'' which means ''Manufacture D Armes'' when they switched to a Republic. The back of the buttplate has worn/faded markings from rust, they appear to read ''99'', ''36'', ''95''. Right side of rear barrel band is marked ''V 22''. S/N mismatched bolt (R11172) all bolt parts match each other. S/N matching bayonet lug. The rubber obturator is dry & hardened, unknown condition of the needle. The bore is very good. Its bright with strong rifling, but has spots of roughness. The barrel holds a small barleycorn front sight with a stepped base/ladder wide V-notch rear sight, does not have the updated added on ladder. Marked 2 to 4 on the base, 5 to 12 on the ladder. The stock carries a steel buttplate that's toning to a brown patina. The rifle has both sling loops & is missing the cleaning/clearing rod. The rifle comes with the correct Yatagan Sword bayonet, has a brass handle, light rust/patina on the blade, edge has chips, S/N mismatched to the rifle. Antique, No FFL Req - Value: 700 to 1400

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Price

Manufacture d'armes de Chatellerault, Model: MLE 1866 Chassepot... Item # 4504 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $368

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