Original Dutch Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88 Bolt Action Magazine Conversion Rifle Serial 1159 with Bayonet – Dated 1885 and 1891 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This Dutch Infantry Rifle was made by Stevens in Maastricht in the Netherlands, and is actually dated 1873. The model M-71 was a single shot 11mm rifle that was converted to a bolt-action magazine rifle with a capacity of four rounds in 1891. This magazine system was introduced in 1888, derived from Vitali’s improvements to the Italian Vetterli rifle, and led to the designation Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88. Our example also comes with an original bayonet, which are seldom encountered.

This example has serial number 1159 on the barrel and butt plate, and numbers H 22 on most of the bolt components, above the chamber on the receiver, as well as on the magazine floor plate. The bolt head is non-matching, probably swapped at arsenal long ago. The barrel is dated 1885, and the receiver is worn, so we are not able to see any maker markings on it. It is in nice condition overall with a nice refinished stock, still bearing a very faint MAASTRICHT / 1885 cartouche with CROWN / W in the middle. Additionally, the butt plate is marked 1891, indicating the year it was converted to the bolt-action magazine system.

The rifle is in very good overall condition, and is in lovely “attic fresh” condition, much as we received it, which has given it a great patinated look. As with many we see, the original cleaning rod is missing, but in this case it has been fitted with an arsenal fabricated replacement. The metalwork has nice mottled patina showing some areas of oxidation peppering, nothing out of the ordinary for a rifle of this age. All components are solid and the bolt moves crisply with just a bit of slop due to wear. The magazine cutoff is present and functional, though a bit difficult to move. The bore is in very good condition, with crisp lands and grooves and a mostly bright finish. There are just a few areas of oxidation, and it looks to have seen only light service during its service life.

The wood stock is quite nice, with a very nice dark red brown color and finish. It has the usual dents and dings expected on a rifle used in service, but no major structural damage we can see. Both sling swivels are present and move, but they are a bit stiff. They have been fitted with a very nice 20th century replica sling, which looks great.

The included cruciform-blade socket bayonet is something we rarely see, as they were usually discarded. It is in very good condition, showing an aged stained patina, with some areas of peppering and light pitting. The bayonet fits great, with no issues removing it or locking on, though the locking ring is stiff.

Still in use by the time WW1 came in 1914 but was much outclassed by the Mauser and Enfield rifle systems introduced in the late 1890s. An unusual system, the bolts spring is in fact housed inside the bolt handle, from an era of great firearms development worldwide, the dawn of the breech-loading period this is unusual and not easy to find. Ready to display!

Specifications (Rifle):-

Year of Manufacture: 1885 – converted 1891
Caliber: 11.3mm x 51R Dutch Beaumont
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 Inches
Overall Length: 52 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 4 Round Magazine

Specifications (Bayonet):-

Blade Length: 20 1/2″
Blade Style: Cruciform Socket
Overall length: 23“

History of the Beaumont:
Created in 1871 by a Dutch engineer named Messerecht, the Dutch Beaumont rifle was one of the first metallic cartridge bolt-action rifle to be adopted by any military. Firing an 11.3x50mm cartridge it was single shot only, meaning the user had to insert a new cartridge after every shot. Unlike other rifles, the mainspring of the Beaumont was located within the bolt handle, an exact copy of the Mauser Norris rifle, which would also be copied by the Japanese with the Murata rifle. This same feature, however, made it impossible to turn down the bolt on cavalry and carbine models.

While the Beaumont was state of the art for its day, by the late 1880’s it was obsolete as repeating rifles became all the rage in Europe. To make up for the Beaumont’s deficiency, the Dutch added a magazine to the rifle, the same type of magazine used by the Italians when they converted their single shot Vetterli rifles into repeaters. Since the Beaumont was outfitted with the Italian Vitali magazine in 1888, it was redubbed the Beaumont-Vitali Model 1871/88. The Vitali magazine held four rounds and was reloaded with an en bloc clip made of cardboard. When the clip was empty, an attached string was pulled to remove it from the magazine, no kidding.

Despite the upgrade the Beaumont-Vitali, much like the Italian Vetterli Vitali, was obsolete by the time it was introduced. By 1890 nations began to adopt smokeless powder designs which used smaller caliber high velocity cartridges firing conical shaped spitzer bullets. Eventually the Dutch phased out the Beaumont-Vitali and replaced it with the M95 Steyr-Hembrug.

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