Original Dutch Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88 Bolt Action Magazine Conversion Rifle Serial 1882 with Sling – Dated 1873 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This Dutch Infantry Rifle was most likely made by J.F.J. Bar in Delft 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 example has serial number 1882 on the barrel and butt plate, and numbers H / 974 on the bolt components, above the chamber on the receiver, as well as on the magazine floor plate. This is normal for the converted rifles, as the action had to be rebuilt. The barrel is dated 1873, between several proof marks, and there are additional proof marks on the receiver. There is no maker marking on the receiver, most likely as it was removed by wear. It is in nice condition overall with a nice refinished stock, still bearing a relatively clear DELFT / 1873 cartouche with CROWN / W in the middle, the marking used by J.F.J. Bar in Delft. 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, complete with the original cleaning rod, often missing. The metal finish looks to have been bright originally, and now has a grayish patina overall. All components are solid and the bolt moves crisply, though there is a bit of slop due to wear. The bore is in very good condition, showing strong lands and grooves and a mostly bright finish. There is just a bit of wear and past fouling visible in areas, and this rifle looks to have been well taken care of during its service life.

The wood stock is quite nice, with a very nice honey color, most likely having been made from beech wood. It has the usual dents and dings expected on a rifle used in service, but no major structural damage we can see. There is a hole on the left side of the fore stock due to oxidation from the band spring post. Both sling swivels are present and move, and there is even a very nice leather sling fitted, though we do not know if it is period.

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:-

Year of Manufacture: 1873 – 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

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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