Antique French Model 1866 Chassepot Infantry Rifle, 11mm

Here is an original, French Model 1866 Chassepot Infantry Rifle manufactured at St, Etienne in 1872. The Model 1866 was France's answer to the Prussian Army's Dreyse "Needle Gun". This was the standard French rifle of the Franco-Prussian War. The Chassepot was also a needle gun design having a long sharp firing pin that pierced the base of the cartridge, passed through the powder charge and ignited the 11mm cartridge just behind the bullet. The design used an India Rubber gasket, known as an "Obdurator" to seal the breech against gas blow back. The rifle had some problems. The obdurator would harden and fail. The needle became fouled and would not always ignite the cartridge. In 1874 many of these rifles were converted to the Gras metallic cartridge system. This replaced the needle fire system with a newly designed bolt head firing a metallic centerfire cartridge. This is an original, unmodified Chassepot with its obdurator mechanism still in place. The India rubber obdurator itself has rotted away, leaving just the metal parts behind.
The rifle is in very good condition overall, except for the butt plate, which is truly horrible. The rifle has a lightly textured, dark brown patina overall. The butt plate has a heavily pitted dark brown patina.
It is separating from the stock. The rear sling swivel is also heavily rusted. The action works correctly but is sluggish. A good cleaning and some oil should set it right.
The bore is very dark with some pitting. Rifling is visible along the bore's length. The stock is good and is numbered to the gun.


This is an antique arm. No licence is necessary.