Original French Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80 Parade Infantry Rifle by Châtellerault – Dated 1881 Original Items

Original item: Only One Available. This is a very good example of the Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80, which was later “Dressed Up” for parade use. The receiver, barrel, sight, and cleaning rod were all buffed and heavily blued, which looks great, though it did make the markings faint. The fittings were then nickel plated, and the bolt left as polished bright steel. The stock was also refinished with a brown translucent varnish. This rifle is definitely quite the looker!

The receiver on the rifle still has traces of the original receiver markings, though they are very faint: MANUFACTURE D’ARMES / Châtellerault over M80, and to the right is the model designation Mle 1874. The rifle has a clear issue date marking of C. 1881 stamped into the right barrel nocks form, for manufacture at the Imperial Arsenal of Châtellerault in 1881. This rifle has mismatched serial numbers, another indication of arsenal reconditioning. Serial number AB 86850 is present on the barrel and bayonet stand, while the bolt and stock are marked with different serial numbers. It comes with all original plated steel mounts and an intact cleaning rod. Most fittings bear the correct government proof marks, though some are worn.

The stock is in good condition with great color, though it appears to have been reconditioned at arsenal, which has made the markings faint. The brown varnish used has also made the original color and grain of the wood hard to see.

The metalwork is in very good condition, having been reconditioned for parade use. There is however some flaking and oxidation on the nickel plated fittings. The bore is in very good condition, with clear lands and grooves showing only light wear. It does not look to have seen much in the way of actual firing during service.

A very nice Antique French Gras Parade rifle, ready to hang on the wall and display!

Specifications: –

Year of Manufacture: 1881
Caliber: 11×59mmR Gras
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 Inches
Overall Length: 51.4 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: Single Shot

More on the French M1874 Gras Rifle:
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 rifle had 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.

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