Chassepot 1866

Description of the personalized Chassepot rifle

This rifle has therefore either been transformed into a hunting weapon, or it may be a master piece.

It has retained its original caliber (11 mm with combustible cartridge) and its needle firing. It is in the original length of an infantry rifle, i.e. 1.31 m.

The modifications made are as follows.

Metal parts:

- the breech box, originally five-sided, has been milled into a round shape, and engraved.

- the barrel, also five-sided up to the rear sight (preserved from the original), has also been reworked in a round shape; the bayonet lug has been removed.

- the breech has been artistically reshaped and engraved; its breech lever has been bent with a large radius (it is not a rifle lever, this one being bent at a right angle).

- the trigger guard has been recut and engraved.

- the original straight butt plate has been replaced by a curved plate for better shoulder fit; it is engraved on its back with an ostrich under a palm tree.

- the trigger guard has been engraved.

- the grenadier carrying the sling flap is engraved and held in place by a wood screw on the right side.

- the ramrod is not original.

The wood:

It would seem that it was carved from an original unfinished stock. What allows me to affirm this is the fact that the location of the trigger guard cannot originally receive the cuts of the latter. Its general dimensions are those of the original.

- the buttplate has been curved.

- the barrel is shortened, and finished with an engraved decorative plate.

- a reshaping by reworking was carried out in the area of the breech.

- the ramrod channel, originally located on the outside of the wood, was blocked by joints then re-grooved to be along the barrel.

- a shield has been added to the right side of the stock; it is certainly marked with the initials of the owner, but unfortunately almost illegible.

The markings:

- under the butt plate: F and Y 23.

- under the butt sling flap: Y 23 and 2.

- under the trigger spring: 28.

- under the trigger guard: F and 8.

- under the shield: C with a star in a diamond.

Note that the barrel curiously does not bear any proof mark, which is nevertheless mandatory to use the weapon. This therefore leads me to assume the use of a "blank" barrel, and therefore not intended for shooting, as part of a master piece for exhibition (?).

Therefore, there is no way at first glance to define the maker.

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