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Winning Bid US $363 First bid $300 Quantity 1 # of bids 4 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-05-07 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Manufacture Darmes De St. Etienne, Model: MLE 1866 Chassepot, Cal: 11mm Needlefire, MFG: 1873, S/N: P98038, Bolt action single shot needle fire, 32'' 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.

CONDITION: The straight wrist walnut stock is good with numerus nicks, dings, dents, chips, & scratches from use/age. The right cheek of the stock has a roundel cartouche with a box wood plug in the middle. The roundel reads ''M.S. JUILLET. J. 1873'', & the box wood plug is marked ''MA''. Plug sits just above the stock showing the stock has not been sanded. The bottom of the wrist is stamped ''P.MATOULIN''. the top of the wrist has one French proof. Under the buttplate is stamped a French proof & ''12'' the metal has worn to a gunmetal gray with scattered brown patina. The left side of the receiver is marked ''MANUFACTURE DARMES'', ''ST.ETIENNE'', ''MLE 1866''. The right rear section of the receiver has two small proofs. The left rear side of the barrel is marked with the S/N, ''F.V''. the right rear of the barrel is marked ''S.1873'', ''MA''. The rear of the barrel is also marked with many small proofs. The back of the buttplate is marked ''M*C'', ''VL'', ''9'', ''Z''. S/N matching bolt, cleaning rod & bayonet lug. The bore is excellent. Bright & mirrorlike with only a couple spots of light roughness. The barrel holds a small barleycorn front sight with a stepped base/ladder wide V-notch rear sight with the updated long range ladder slider. Marked 2 to 4 on the base, 5 to 12 on the ladder, & 13 to 15 on the ladder slider. The stock carries a steel buttplate thats toning to a brown patina. rifle has both sling loops & has a S/N matching cleaning rod. Antique, No FFL Req. - Value: 600 to 1200

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Price

Manufacture Darmes De St. Etienne, Model: MLE 1866 Chassepot, Ca... Item # 4461 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $363

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