Original French Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80 Infantry Rifle by Tulle – Dated 1880 Original Items

Original item: Only One Available. The Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80 was one of the primary French service rifle of the late 19th century. The Gras used by the French Army was an adaptation to metallic cartridge of the Chassepot Mle 1866 breech-loading rifle, developed by Colonel Basile Gras. The first examples were in fact conversions of the Chassepot, replacing the needle-fire system with a bolt action one.

This is a fine example with very good bore. It has clear lands and grooves, with a mostly bright finish, though it appears that the last 1 inch of the barrel suffered some rust damage inside and out. The received is marked M-1874 MANUFACTURE DES ARMES, Tulle over M80. The rifle has an issue date stamped into the barrel of T.1880. It comes with all original steel mounts and cleaning rod. Most fittings bear the correct government proof marks, though some are worn. The stock has traces of the usual round cartouche, however it is very faint, so only the MA is legible. 

Offered in good overall condition the rifle has some unmatched serial numbers, indicating a long service life. The serial number on the receiver, stock, bolt and bayonet stand is T 87286. The stock is in good condition, though it does appear to have been refinished. Great color and an excellent finish.

This rifle has a caliber of 11mm and used black powder centerfire cartridges that weighed 25 grams. It was a robust and hard-hitting weapon, but it had no magazine and so could only fire one shot after loading. It also had a triangular-shaped sword bayonet, known as the Model 1874 “Gras” sword bayonet. It was replaced by the Lebel rifle in 1886, the first rifle to use smokeless gunpowder. In the meantime, about 400,000 Gras rifles had been manufactured.

The metallic-cartridge Gras was manufactured in response to the development of the metallic cartridge designed by Colonel Boxer in 1866 (Boxer cartridge), and the British 1870 Martini-Henry rifle. Those were soon emulated by the Germans with the 1871 Mauser.

The Hellenic Army adopted the Gras in 1877, and it was used in all conflicts up until the Second World War. It became the favourite weapon of Greek guerrilla fighters, from the various revolts against the Ottoman Empire to the resistance against the Axis, acquiring legendary status. The name entered the Greek language, and grades (γκράδες) was a term colloquially applied to all rifles during the first half of the 20th century. It was manufactured by various arms factories in France, though most of the rifles sent to Greece were made by the ŒWG Austrian Arms Factory at Steyr.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1880
Caliber:  11×59mmR Gras
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 51.4 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: Single Shot

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