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Winning Bid US $709 First bid $300 Quantity 1 # of bids 8 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Etienne (France), MLE 1874 Gras, Cal : 11 x 59mmR Gras, MFG : 1875, S/N: F 4790, Bolt Action single shot, 32 3/8'' barrel.

HISTORY: The Gras was a update/conversion of the MLE 1866 Chassepot from a paper cartridge needle-fire rifle to a metallic cartridge rifle. It was named after its designer, Captain Basile Gras. The metallic cartridge sealed far better than the paper cartridge needle-fire system, increasing their range & comfortability when firing. The Metallic cartridge was far more reliable as well. Older Chassepot rifles were easily converted & new production rifles were made. Interestingly, this rifle has missed a update that happened in 1880 known as the M80 update. There was a channel cut into the receiver just behind the chamber & another cut down the receiver to vent & direct gas in case of a case head rupture. Early metallic cartridges were not as reliable as today & defects in manufacture were common, so this was a great improvement for the safety of the soldiers. Guns with this update would be marked M80 to indicate this update. France was pretty good with updating their rifles so its rare to see one without it & is a likely indicator it left French service before or around 1880. This rifle also bears post 1893 Belgian proofs on many of its parts. Belgium would use many Gras rifles in its colonies around this time as they were being sold as surplus as France was replacing them with the MLE 1886 Lebel. Belgium would also field many units with Gras Rifles at the beginning off WW1 as they were (just like everyone) in dire need of arms. They even saw front line use against the Germans. It is not know exactly how the Belgium army got their hands on the Gras rifles for WW1 but two of the most believed ways is that the rifles came from a reserve of arms from the Ministry of Belgian colonies, as they did outfit colonial troops with the Gras. the other way is that they were seized from Belgian gun dealers when the Germans invaded to both prevent German troops from capturing them, & for their own use. Many Gras were converted into sporting shotguns & rifles in Belgium around the WW1 & WW2 era, but with this rifle being in full military config, it is likely it was one of the rifles they used.

CONDITION: The straight wrist walnut stock is very good, as being sanded & oiled. The metal is proud to the wood around the top of the buttplate, trigger guard tangs, upper receiver tang & the rear sling mount. The left cheek of the stock has a heavily faded S/N marking that appears to match the rifle. The right cheek of the stock has a heavily faded, roundel acceptance cartouche with the boxwood plug in the middle. The boxwood plug is marked ''MA''. The metal retains 60% blue with areas of thinned blue, gun metal gray, brown patina, roughness & rust speckling. There is spots of light pitting/roughness around the stock line. The left side of the receiver is marked with two Belgium proofs, ''MANUFACTURE D.ARMES'', ''ST.ETIENNE'', ''MLE 1874''. The top of the receiver band has one small shield proof. The right rear of the receiver has two more small proofs. The left rear of the barrel is marked with the S/N over a large set of Belgum proofs, ''P.G'', ''M'' in circle, ''J'' in circle. The top rear of the barrel has two worn proofs. The right rear of the barrel is marked ''S.1875'' two small proofs, ''MA'', & a few other proofs. More small proof markings on the upper buttplate tang, trigger guard tangs, rear barrel band, & the bolt. Belgium proof marks on the bolt face, bolt body, & the striker body. Front barrel band marked ''PA''. buttplate marked ''43''. S/N matching bolt (all parts) & bayonet lug. The bore is very good. Its bright with strong rifling & spots of roughness/ light pitting. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with a tangent/ladder V-notch rear sight. No markings on rear sight base, the ladder is marked 350 on the bottom notch & 4 to 18 on the first ladder, second ladder is unmarked. The stock carries a steel buttplate that's left in the white. Buttplate has roughness & starting to tone brown. rifle has both sling loops & has its cleaning/clearing rod. Rifle comes with the correct MLE 1874 Gras T-back sword bayonet with sheath. Spine marked with the manufacture St. Etienne, & the MFG date 1875. Bayonet & sheath S/N do not match each other nor the rifle. a beautiful example of a early MFG., un-altered Gras rifle that likely saw use with Belgium in WW1. Antique, No FFL Req - Value: 600 to 1200

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Price

Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Etienne (France), MLE 1874 Gras, C... Item # 4505 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $709

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