Home Login Sign Up My Account Browse Links Logout How to Consign   Ward's Bid Sheet   Rules

Winning Bid US $300 First bid $300 Quantity 1 # of bids 1 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-02-11 00:00:00 Ended 2025-02-28 22:59:51

Chatellerault, Model: Mle 1866 Chassepot, 11mm needle-fire, MFG: 1867, S/N: A6935, bolt action needle-fire, single shot rifle, 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. This rifle left French service early with it missing the updated rear sight & not having the M80 gas vent cut. The dogwood plug has been removed, another sign it was sold off as surplus & did not stay in France pretty soon after the Franco-Prussian war.

CONDITION: The straight wrist is good. The stock has either shrunk or has been worn down over the years with the metal being proud to the wood around the buttplate, lower tang, & barrel bands. Stock has nicks, dings, scratches, small cracks & chips. The dog wood plug in the right cheek of the stock has been removed, this was a marker for French government ownership. The metal has toned to a brown patina with a few small spots of rust. Rust coming out from under rear sight. All markings on the receiver have worn away other than two small proofs. The left side of the barrel is marked with the S/N, ''F'' in circle, ''L'' in circle. The right side of the barrel is marked ''C 1867'', a small crown over ''C'' proof, ''MI'', star over ''E'', & two more smaller proofs. The A serial block was assigned to Chatellerault, & the C before the MFG date on the barrel indicates the barrel was made at Chatellerault. The ''MI'' marking indicates Manufacture Imperiale. This marking can be found on the barrel & receiver normally. it switched to ''MA'' for Manufacture d Armes after 1870, when France switched from Imperial rule to Republic rule. S/N matching bolt. The bore is good to very good. Its bright with consistent roughness throughout. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with a stepped base/ladder V-notch rear sight. Base is marked 2 to 4 with a 350 mark. The ladder Is marked 5 to 10 on the bottom with a 12 marked notch at the top. The stock carries a steel buttplate, toned brown with heavy roughness & pitting scars. Rifle has both sling loops. The rifle is missing its cleaning/clearing rod. Antique, no FFL req - Value: 600 to 1200

(Move around the image by clicking and dragging. Zoom with your scroll wheel)

Payment Details See Payment Instructions and item description, or contact seller for more information.

Payment Instructions See item description or contact seller for more information.

Price

Chatellerault, Model: Mle 1866 Chassepot, 11mm needle-fire, MFG:... Item # 4398 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $300

How to Pay If you would like to expedite your payment, please send us an email or give us a call informing us that you would like your invoice emailed to you. If we do not hear from you one of two things will happen: A.) If you signed up and asked us to bill your credit card & ship all items ASAP then that is what we will do. No further notice will be sent. B.) If you signed up and wanted to send us a check, then your invoice will be mailed to you after we figure the shipping. (Please note: If you want to speed this up just send us an email after the auction)

Return to Home Page