Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Serial #81110, 6.5mm Daudeteau, 31 barrel with an excellent, bright bore. This is a circa 1880s converted rifle that was adapted to the smallbore, 6.5mm Daudeteau cartridge (6.5 x 53.5mm) for Uruguay at the behest of a Uruguayan-Greek named Dovitis.
The work was performed at the St. Denis Arsenal in France and the Lebel type barrel has St. Denis markings on the breech. The bolt is correct, but isn't matching, and has a fine armory bright patina.
The walnut stock has a dark oil finish with numerous small handling marks and small blemishes, and the brass trigger guard has been cleaned to a pale bright yellow patina. The original sling swivels were removed during the conversion, and newer, French pattern swivels added (trigger guard swivel is absent). Our example is excellent and ready to display, however, it is missing the bolt head and extractor, which no doubt can be found through a parts website.
These rifles represented an effort by the Uruguayan government to follow its neighbors and adopt a small bore, smokeless rifle by converting their existing stocks of Mauser black powder rifles at lesser expense. The conversions were well made, but failed for several reasons, not the least of which was the ammunition, which gave very unsatisfactory performance (modern reloaders report good accuracy and excellent reliability with ammunition made from modern components).
In the end, Uruguay was forced to purchase Mauser bolt action magazine rifles to keep up with their military rivals just like everybody else in South America. This is a fine example of a rarely seen Daudeteau conversion and would make a wonderful addition to any collection.
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
- IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to posses, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in live condition. They are sold as collector’s items or as wall hangers. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
