France

Year of introduction System  Calibre
1866 Chassepot Mle 1866  11 mm (NF)
1867 Tabatière Mle 1867 Fusil (conversion)  17.8 x 38R
1867 Tabatière Mle 1867 Carabine (conversion)  18.2 x 38R
 1874 Gras Mle 1874  11 x 59.5R
1878 Kropatschek français Mle 1884  11 x 59.5R
1886 Lebel Mle 1886  8 x 51R
1890 Berthier Mle 1890  8 x 51R
1914 Gras Mle 1874 M.14  8 x 51R
1917 R.S.C. Mle 1917 semi-automatic rifle  8 x 51R
1927 Lebel Mle 1886/93 M.27 (conversion)  7.5 x 54
1934 Berthier Mle 1907/15 M.34 (conversion)  7.5 x 54
1936 MAS 36  7.5 x 54

 

Remarks about the table above:

The purpose of the table is to give an overview of the development of the systems that were issued to the land forces. The model designations, mentioned by the system names are indicative. Different model designations, but with the same system and calibre, are not mentioned separately. Calibre modifications can be relevant for showing the technical borders of a certain system. Therefore calibre modifications are mentioned. NF stand for Needle Fire.

 

 

 

Le fusil Modèle 1866 dit "Chassepot"

 

Le fusil d'Infantrie Modèle 1866 dit "Chassepot" calibre 11 mm

 

This rifle bears serial number 26946 and is made at Manufacture d'Armes Saint Etienne.

 

In the Danish-Prussian War of 1864 the Prussians made a short but decisive action, armed with the Dreyse needle fire rifle. This made the French government to decide for the adoption of an entirely new made breech loading rifle. In this the French government stood not alone. The British were also encouraged by this and started the development of the Martini Henry rifle that finally was adopted in 1871. The French took less time and adopted the Chassepot needle fire rifle in 1866. It saw its first action on the battlefield at Montana in 1867, where the hostile army had severe losses. The French supported the military forces of the Pope during that battle. The French Parliament stated that "Les Chassepots ont fait merveille!" (The Chassepots caused a miracle!)

 

The inventor of the Mle.1866 needle fire rifle, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot (1833-1905) was educated as a gunsmith like his father. Alphonse Chassepot invented several experimental breech loaders. (See also the sketch of an early breech loading system of Chassepot on the "Switzerland" page of this website.) On 1864 he became the head of the government arsenal at Châtellerault in France.

 

System "de Bange" obturation mechanism on the de Bange 90mm field cannon. Source: Wikipedia

 

One of the advantages of the  Chassepot M1866 over the  Dreyse M1841 was its superior method of sealing of the bolt by means of a rubber obturating disk. It has the same principle as the breech sealing of the French Bange canon. Because of the absence of a metallic cartridge both early breech loading rifles and breech loading artillery leaked gasses at the breech.

 

A French officer, Charles Ragon de Bange (1833-1914) invented a system that is nowadays still in use with big artillery. The breechblock was in two pieces—a plug screwed with interrupted threads and having a central hole, and a “vent bolt” shaped like a mushroom. The stem of the bolt passed through the centre of the breechblock, and the “mushroom head” sat in front of the block. Between the mushroom head and the block was a pad of resilient material shaped to conform to the chamber mouth. On firing, the mushroom head was forced back, squeezing the pad outward so as to provide a gas-tight seal. This system, refined by a century of experience, became the principal method of obturation used with major-calibre artillery. (Source : Wikipaedia Brittanica)

 

The rubber obturating disk (system "de Bange") that prevent the hot gases from escaping at the breech is clearly visible.

 

It is remarkable that the French selected a needle fire rifle in a time that the metallic central fire cartridge was already available. For example, the British started the transformation of muzzle loader rifles to the Snider system in the same year. The British M1866 Snider-Enfield rifle was loaded with a .577" central fire cartridge. It appears that the French were very impressed by the military success of the Prussian Dreyse needle fire rifle, although it was invented in 1841. It also could be said that needle fire cartridges are cheaper and weight less. These were important advantages in a time that opponents of the breech loading rifle were afraid of wasting ammo. There was also the safety aspect. In the early days, the priming compound was instable and sensitive to shocks. This was an important reason for not placing the primer at the outside back of the cartridge. The primer of the Chassepot cartridge is placed inside the cartridge. The primer can only be reached by a needle. Therefore the Chassepot needle fire cartridge is probably less sensitive for shocks than the early centre fire cartridges.

 

The introduction of the Dreyse needle fire rifle in 1841 by the Germans can be called revolutionary. The French adopted their own Chassepot needle fire rifle not earlier  than 1866. The Mle 1866 Chassepot rifle was superior to the German Prussian Dreyse Mod.1841. But actually, the Chassepot was obsolete when it was adapted. For example, the American Northern army had adopted the Spencer M1860  7 shot repeating rifle in 1860. The Spencer repeating rifle had an enormous firepower. The modern metallic self contained rim fire cartridge made it possible to construct such rugged and reliable repeating rifles like the Spencer and the more sophisticated but also more fragile 15 shot Henry M1860 lever action rifle. It should be stated that the low powered Spencer cartridge could not replace more powerful service rifles like the Sharps and the French Chassepot in al situations. Nevertheless, the example of the Spencer illustrates the possibilities of the technology, even before 1866.

 

I have stated it before, the Mle 1866 Chassepot rifle was superior to the German Prussian Dreyse Mod.1841. In despite of this fact the French lost the Franco - Prussian war of 1870. The French Army had nearly 1,200,000 Chassepot rifles available in 1870. It was remarkable easy to convert the Chassepot M1866 rifle to the Gras M1866/74 that was chambered for metallic cartridges in the same calibre.

 

Le fusil Modèle 1874 dit "Gras"

The main drawback of the needle fire breech loading system was that it leaked gasses and soon led to foiling. The rubber obturating disk was soon damaged by the hot gasses. Another drawback of the Chassepot rifle was that the shooter had to cock the hammer piece before the bolt of the rifle could be opened. Besides, the long and heavy sabre bayonet of the Chassepot rifle made accurate shooting difficult and in some cases even bent the barrel.

 

General Basile Gras (1836 - 1901) developed a rifle that was strongly based on the Mle.1866 but it was chambered for the 11 x 59.5R metallic central fire cartridge. The Gras rifle was cocked by opening the bolt. Also a different type of bayonet was adopted. The rifle was called after its developer and date of adoption. Le fusil Modèle 1874 dit Gras. (The model 1874 rifle indicated as Gras) The rifles were entirely new made. The rear sight had a graduation of 200 m - 1800 m.

 

Model designations

 

Le fusil Modèle1866 -1874 T

After the Mle. 1874 was adopted and a quantity of rifles was hand out to the troops, it was decided to convert Mle.1866 Chassepot rifles to the Gras system. These rifles were called Fusil Modèle 1866 - 74 T Gras and were chambered for the same calibre 11x59.5R Gras cartridge. The "T" stands for the French word "Transformé" (transformed, changed into).

 

An 11 cm long tube was placed in the drilled breech end of the original Chassepot barrel. The tube insert causes a longer chamber throat which led to less accuracy. The old Mle.1866 rifles had a rear sight with a graduation of 1200 m. The rear sight graduation of the Modèle 1866 - 74 T is 200 m - 1700 m.

 

The modification of 1880

The "Modifié" (modification) of 1880 consists of cutting an annular channel and a longitudinal groove  in the receiver for gas escape in case of cartridge rupture. The rear sight graduation was modified to 200 m - 1800 m.

 

Model designation for example : Le fusil d'infanterie Mle.1866 -1874 M80

 

The modification of 1914

This was a 8 mm Lebel conversion of the Gras rifle. The rifle had a hand guard fitted between receiver and barrel band.

 

Model designation for example : Fusil d'infanterie Mle. 1874 M80 M14

 

 

                             

A French soldier armed with a Chassepot rifle.       Roundel on the butt of the Chassepot rifle.

Source: http://www.military-photos.com.                     

 

 

Model designation by different type of purpose

Besides the modifications and the fact that some Gras rifles were converted Chassepot rifles, there is also a model difference depending on the purpose of the rifles.

 

Le fusil d'infantrie                                            

Infantry Rifle

total length : 113 cm

 

La carabine de cavalerie                                 

Cavalry Carbine

total length : 118 cm

rear sight graduation : 150 m - 1100 m

 

La carabine de gendarmerie à cheval             

State constable on horseback carbine

total length : 118 cm

rear sight graduation : 150 m - 1100 m

 

La carabine de gendarmerie à pied                 

State constable on foot carbine

total length :

 

Le musqueton d'artillerie                                  

Artillery short rifle

total length : 99 cm

 

 

Designation Chassepot  Gras Calibre Bayonet
Fusil d'infanterie Mle 1866   11 mm Needle Fire Mle 1866
Fusil d'infanterie   Mle 1866/74 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1874 or Mle 1866 M74
Fusil d'infanterie   Mle 1874 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1874 or Mle 1866 M74
Fusil d'infanterie   Mle 1874 M80 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1874 or Mle 1866 M74
Fusil d'infanterie   Mle 1874 M14  8 x 51R Lebel Mle 1874
Fusil d'infanterie   Mle 1874 M80 M14  8 x 51R Lebel Mle 1874
Carabine de cavalerie Mle 1866   11 mm Needle Fire none
Carabine de cavalerie   Mle 1874 11 x 59.5R Gras none
Carabine de gendarmerie à pied Mle 1866   11 mm Needle Fire Mle 1866
Carabine de gendarmerie à pied   Mle 1874 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1866 M74
Carabine de gendarmerie à cheval Mle 1866   11 mm Needle Fire  
Carabine de gendarmerie à cheval   Mle 1874 11 x 59.5R Gras  
Musqueton d'artillerie Mle 1866   11 mm Needle Fire Mle 1866
Musqueton d'artillerie   Mle 1866/74 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1866 M74
Musqueton d'artillerie   Mle 1874 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1866 M74
Musqueton d'artillerie   Mle 1874 M80 11 x 59.5R Gras Mle 1866 M74

 

 

Chassepot and Gras rifles were made in the following factories:

Manufacture d'Armes Saint Etienne

Manufacture d'Armes Tulle

Manufacture d'Armes Châtellerault

Oesterreichse Waffen Gesellshaft Steyr, Austria

 

 

Bayonet for the Mle.1866 Chassepot rifle

The serial number of the Chassepot rifle should match the serial number on the bayonet and the bayonet scabbard, all leaving the same factory. However, there were separate deliverances of complete bayonets or only bayonet blades from other factories, with not matching serial numbers, also. The serial number on the handle and the scabbard is prefixed by a capital letter which indicates the factory. The capital letter is not found on all samples and also letters that are not mentioned in the following table can be found.

 

 Prefix Factory
A, B or C Châtellerault
D or C Munzig
F or Q St. Etienne
I none
R, S or T Tulle
U or V subcontractor Cahen-Lyon & Cie
X l'Atelier de Paris
Z Indicates that the bayonet was supplied to personnel that was not armed with a rifle

 

The right side of the blade bears an inspectors mark, just below the brass handle. A cipher, stamped on the left side of the blade, below the handle indicates the lot number of the steel of the blade.

 

This photo illustrates of a sword bayonet Mle 1866 made in April 1869 by Tulle. The bayonet has serial number S 10769 so has been made at Tulle. The not matching serial number B 79322 of the scabbard indicates that it is made at Châtellerault, because of the capital letter "B".

 

The back of the Chassepot bayonets were engraved. The following 3 periods can be distinguished. During the second empire (until October / November 1870), the name of the manufacturer was prefixed with the text Manufacture Impériale de, abbreviated with "Mre Impale de ...". During the "Gouvernement de la Défense Nationale", form 1871 until 1873 the name of the manufacturer has no prefix. After 1873, during the Troisième République (third republic) the name of the manufacturer was prefixed with the text Manufacture d'Armes de, abbreviated with "Mre d'Armes de ...". The text was followed by the month and year of the manufacture of the blade. Some months could be abbreviated: September (7bre), October (8bre), November (9bre), December (Xbre).

 

 Prefix Form of government Period
Mre Impale de ... Manufacture Impériale until 1870
none Gouvernement de la Défense Nationale 1871 - 1873
Mre d'Armes de ... Troisième République after 1873

 

Photo of a fragment of the engraved text on the back of the bayonet. Complete engraved text: "Mre Impale de Tulle Avril 1869".

 

Bayonet for the Mle.1874 Gras rifle

 

This Gras bayonet, made at Tulle, has serial number 10817. The not matching serial number B 28359 of the scabbard indicates that the scabbard has been made at Châtellerault, because of the capital letter "B".

 

Photo of a fragment of the engraved text on the back of the bayonet. Complete engraved text: "Mre d'Armes de Tulle Novembre 1879".

 

Bayonet for the Mle.1886 Lebel rifle

 

This photo illustrates a Modèle 1886/15 bayonet. The serial number is not visible due to rust.

 

A collector's item become more interesting when its history is known. I am the owner of an old farm to spend the holidays with my family. Its situated in Northern France, not far from the World-War I battle-fields of the Somme. I was working outside on January 2006 when my wife and son came to me with, what they called, a stove poker. For a collector, it wasn't hard to see that the rusty thing was an old Lebel bayonet. Because of the old books, photo's, furniture, tools and trash that we also had found on the attic, it is possible that the bayonet has been stored there since World-War I.

 

 

Ammunition

 

11mm Chassepot

11mm Chassepot Mle.1866 Needle Fire cartridge. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge is displayed for comparison only.

 

     

 

 

11 x 59.5R Gras

A 11 x 59.5R cartridge for the Gras Mle.1874 rifle. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge is displayed for comparison only.

 

 

 

 

8 x 51R Lebel

Below, from left tot right:

- .22 Long Rifle cartridge (for comparison only).

- 8 x 51R cartridge "ART.M".

- 8 x 51R cartridge "ART.D".

- 8 x 51R cartridge "étuis D am"

- 8 x 51R cartridge "Tir réduit"

 

 

Below, from left tot right:

- head stamp of a 8 x 51R cartridge "ART.M" (Artillerie Modifé; modified model).

- head stamp of a 8 x 51R cartridge "ART.D" (Artillerie D; contains the model D bullet type).

 

 

 

Below, from left tot right:

- head stamp of a 8 x 51R cartridge "étuis D am"  (étuis D am; shell type D am).

- head stamp of a 8 x 51R cartridge "Tir réduit", "Balle sphérique, Mle 1895 2ème type".

 

 

 

The 8 x 51R "étuis D am"  (étuis D am; shell type D am) had a circular grooved head. This was intended to keep the bullet point, at the rear cartridge in the tube magazine, away from the primer. The text of the head stamp is placed at the outer circle which indicates that this cartridge is made after 1915. "Tir réduit", "Balle sphérique, Mle 1895 2ème type" stand for "cartridge for short range shooting practice, model 1895 ball, second type".

 

 

Credits