Original German / French Model 1866 Chassepot Needle Fire Rifle Converted to Carbine – Dated 1873 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Despite the fact that the French needle fire Chassepot rifle was far superior to the needle fire Prussian Dreyse rifle, the French took a swift and decisive beating in the Franco Prussian war of 1870-71. After the defeat the Prussians removed great quantities of the new French Needle fire rifles, which were a big improvement over the Dreyse Needle fire rifle, the Prussian equivalent that had been used during the war.

In short order however, the Prussians, or now more accurately the new formed State of a unified Germany introduced the revolutionary MAUSER Model 1871 self contained cartridge rifle. Not to let theses captured M-1866 Chassepot rifles the Germans converted many to shorter barrel carbines and reissued them to serve troops still as needle fires as they had immense quantities of captured French ammunition as well.

Here is an example of a typical Chassepot Model 1866 Rifle made in 1868 having French markings removed and converted to a carbine length weapon with 26″ barrel and using what appears to be a Mauser 1871 Carbine Nose Cap. There is no accommodation for ramrod and the receiver has been stamped “1873” which is almost certainly the date of the conversion. Unfortunately it appears the internal needle to the bolt is broken. The front sight blade is also missing. All the steel mounts are a polished steel finish, un-blued, as originally issued, making the Carbine most attractive and ready to display

This is a wonderful and unique example of a rare ignition system making it a rare and sought antique rifle.

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