Fusil Chassepot Modèle 1866 - 11mm
German Modified Chassepot Carbine M1871 - 11x60mm
Chassepot Mle. 1866/74T (transormé) - 11x59mmR
The Chassepot 1866 (pronounced "Shaspou") is a French bolt-action, single-shot rifle, using paper cartridges with black powder. This rifle was used by various countries, including France, Monaco, the Tokugawa shogunate (Japan), and the Qajar Dynasty (Iran). The French Army adopted this rifle as Fusil Mle. 1866 and used it as their main infantry weapon in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/1871, where it was the counterpart to the Prussian Dreyse Needle Gun. Chassepot rifles were manufactured in France by Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS), Manufacture d'Armes de Châtellerault (MAC), Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) and some other factories, and also abroad in England, Belgium, and Italy.
When the Chassepot rifle was replaced by the Gras Mle. 1874, numerous Chassepots were converted to use the 11x59mmR Gras ammunition; this model was known as the Fusil Mle. 1866/74. Similar conversions were made in Germany which received many Chassepot rifles captured during the Franco-Prussian war. About 150,000 rifles were converted to using the 11x60mmR Mauser cartridge and shortened to carbine size. German cavalry and artillery used them until the early 1880s.
Specifications
- In service: (1867–1874)
- Weight: 10.2 lbs (4.6 kg)
- Length: 51.6 in (131 cm) (without bayonet)
74 in (188 cm) (with bayonet)
- Caliber: 11 mm
- Action: Bolt action
- Rate of fire: 8-15 rounds/minute
- Effective range: 1,312.336 yards (1,200 m)
- Feed system: Single-shot
The Chassepot 1866 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
Television
| Title
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Notes / Episode
|
Date
|
| Imperial Game |
Oona von Maydell |
Louise Michel |
|
2021
|
|
French soldiers
|
Video Game
Gras Model 1874
Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 - 11x59mm Gras
Fusil Gras Mle. 1874 M80 with Mle. 1874 sword bayonet - 11x59mm Gras
Fusil Gras Mle. 1874 M80 M14 - 8x50mmR
The Gras Mle. 1874 (pronounced "Grah") rifle is an adaptation of the Chassepot rifle to a metal cartridge developed by Basile Gras. The Bavarian Werder-Gewehr M/1869 was a comparable development. In 1880, the Gras got a slight modification of the receiver through a groove, and the cylinder head (extension of the notch in addition to the bleeding of the case) are better subjected to protect the shooter from breakage of holster and exhaust fumes. This model was designated as Gras Mle. 1874 M80. The weapon gained an excellent reputation for ruggedness and ballistic efficiency during overseas expeditions this time. The Japanese Murata Rifle was inspired by the Gras rifle and the Greek Army was introduced to the Gras Mle. 1874 in 1877 and used it in all conflicts until the Second World War. It became the favorite weapon of partisans from the revolts against the Ottoman Empire to resistance to the German occupation and gained a legendary reputation.
Reasons for the relatively quick replacement of this rifle (in France by the Lebel 1886) was the result of the discovery of new powder types that are superior to black powder. But in 1914, the rifle was converted to the 8mm Lebel cartridge because of firearm shortages in World War I. These models were equipped by troops who were not destined to fight at the front with a weapon using standard ammunition, thus simplifying the manufacture and logistics. The second time this happened at the beginning of WWII for the same reasons, in particular in France 1940, and in the USSR 1941, for security and patrol purposes, before they were replaced by more modern rifles.
Specifications
- In service: (1874–1886, 1914-1918)
- Weight: 4.15 kg (9.15 lb)
- Length: 51.4 in (130.5 cm)
- Caliber: 11×59mmR, 8x50mmR
- Action: Bolt action
- Rate of fire: ?
- Effective range: ?
- Feed system: Single-shot
The Gras Model 1874 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Films
Television
Video Game
|
|---|
| Pistols | | |
|---|
| Revolvers | |
|---|
| Submachine guns | |
|---|
| Rifles | |
|---|
| Machine Guns | |
|---|
| Recoilless Rifles | |
|---|
Join our Discord!
