Original French M-1822/1869 17.55mm Tabatière Brass Breech Loading Rifle Conversion – St. Étienne Marked Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The U.S. Civil War was a time for invention: hundreds of new better types of firearms were developed. In addition conversions of older weapons to work with new technology resulted in many brilliant ideas. The Americans, the British, and many other countries throughout Europe took full advantage of these changes.

The British, with a large Empire to protect, developed the SNIDER Breech loading Rifle, although Jacob Snider was an American. The French developed the “Tabatière” Rifle, called that because the new breech resembled a “Snuff Box” (tabatière literally means “snuff” in French). The Tabatière breech loading system was first designed in 1857. It was adopted in 1864 but conversions were slow to start.

At the same time, the French flirted with the Chassepot Needle Fire Model of 1866. By 1870, the Tabatiere was considered inferior to the Chassepot and was abandoned. The French had converted 358,000 Rifled Muskets from Percussion to breech loading, leaving an amazing 1.4 Million in their original percussion state. In the 1880s the French Government disposed of most all of their Tabatiere Rifles, mostly to Belgium for conversion into half stocked 12 gauge shotguns for the African Native trade in the Belgian Congo. Original military Tabatiere Rifles are very rare and command serious prices.

Most of the Tabatiere Rifles were converted from the 1857 French back action Percussion Rifle and were designated the Model of 1857/1869. A much smaller quantity were converted from the original French Modele 1822 Flintlock smooth bore muskets, which had been converted themselves into percussion in the 1840s, and had been fitted with RIFLED Barrels.

What we offer here is the best of all worlds: it is an original French Model 1822 Musket that started life as a side lock flintlock, and then was converted to Percussion in the 1840 and fitted with a rifled barrel. It was then converted a second time to an early Tabatière Rifle using a BRASS Breech system. The Lock retains traces of the early markings having been removed at the time of conversion. From what remains it seems it was originally marked:-

Mre. Rle. de St. Etienne ( Manufactured at the Royal arsenal at St. Etienne)

It came from a Museum Collection in London and is in outstanding condition. The metalwork is in good shape, with a bright finish and just a bit of pitting. The barrel has the peppery look of old pitting, polished out during decades of display. The bore shows clear lands and grooves, and has a mostly bright finish. Stock wood is excellent, and has a great patina. The stock rondel is still present, though unfortunately we could not read the date.

Just gorgeous and Ready to Display

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: circa 1830
Caliber:  17.55mm
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 56 inches
Action: Side Action
Feed System: Single Shot

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.