Original Item: Only One Available. This Dutch Infantry Rifle was made by Stevens in Maastricht in the Netherlands, and is actually dated 1873. The model M-71 was a single shot 11mm rifle that was converted to a bolt-action magazine rifle with a capacity of four rounds in 1891. This magazine system was introduced in 1888, derived from Vitali's improvements to the Italian Vetterli rifle, and led to the designation Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88. Our example also comes with an original bayonet, which are seldom encountered.

This fully cleaned example has serial number 3441 on the barrel and butt plate (VERY faint), and numbers H / 49 on the bolt components, above the chamber on the receiver, as well as on the magazine floor plate. This is normal for the converted rifles, as the action had to be rebuilt. The barrel is dated 1873, and the receiver is faintly marked with maker P. STEVENS / MAASTRICHT. It is in nice condition overall with a nice stock, which definitely looks to have been arsenal reconditioned at some point before seeing further service. The right side of the butt stock still does bear a VERY faint MAASTRICHT / 1873 cartouche with CROWN / W in the middle, for William III of the Netherlands. Additionally, the butt plate is marked 1891, indicating the year it was converted to the bolt-action magazine system.

The rifle is in very good overall condition, with a great patinated look from years of care and cleaning. The metalwork has a nice aged patina, showing some areas of staining and oxidation, and there is some more advanced oxidation and past pitting on the butt plate as well as by the muzzle area, probably from long exposure to moisture. All components are solid and the bolt moves crisply with just a bit of slop due to wear, though it can slide a bit too far back if pulled back hard, causing the ejector to bind on the right side. The magazine cutoff is present and functional, though it can be a bit difficult to move. The bore is in good condition, showing clear lands and grooves, but also a good amount of fouling in the grooves. There is also some rusting near the muzzle end of the barrel from moisture exposure.

The wood stock is quite nice, with a very nice dark red brown color and finish. It has the usual dents and dings expected on a rifle used in service, but no major structural damage we can see. There is some staining near the butt plate due to the steel oxidizing. Both sling swivels are present and move, though they both stick if moved all the way to the back of the front. The original cleaning rod is unfortunately missing, which we often see.

The included cruciform-blade socket bayonet is something we rarely see, as they were usually discarded. It is in very good condition, showing an aged stained patina, with some areas of peppering, but no pitting. The bayonet fits well, and can easily be fitted and removed.

Still in use by the time WW1 came in 1914 but was much outclassed by the Mauser and Enfield rifle systems introduced in the late 1890s. An unusual system, the bolts spring is in fact housed inside the bolt handle, from an era of great firearms development worldwide, the dawn of the breech-loading period this is unusual and not easy to find. Ready to display!

Specifications (Rifle):-

Year of Manufacture: 1873 - converted 1891
Caliber: 11.3mm x 51R Dutch Beaumont
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 Inches
Overall Length: 52 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 4 Round Magazine

Specifications (Bayonet):-

Blade Length: 20 1/2"
Blade Style: Cruciform Socket
Overall length: 23“

History of the Beaumont:
Created in 1871 by a Dutch engineer named Messerecht, the Dutch Beaumont rifle was one of the first metallic cartridge bolt-action rifle to be adopted by any military. Firing an 11.3x50mm cartridge it was single shot only, meaning the user had to insert a new cartridge after every shot. Unlike other rifles, the mainspring of the Beaumont was located within the bolt handle, an exact copy of the Mauser Norris rifle, which would also be copied by the Japanese with the Murata rifle. This same feature, however, made it impossible to turn down the bolt on cavalry and carbine models.

While the Beaumont was state of the art for its day, by the late 1880's it was obsolete as repeating rifles became all the rage in Europe. To make up for the Beaumont's deficiency, the Dutch added a magazine to the rifle, the same type of magazine used by the Italians when they converted their single shot Vetterli rifles into repeaters. Since the Beaumont was outfitted with the Italian Vitali magazine in 1888, it was redubbed the Beaumont-Vitali Model 1871/88. The Vitali magazine held four rounds and was reloaded with an en bloc clip made of cardboard. When the clip was empty, an attached string was pulled to remove it from the magazine, no kidding.

Despite the upgrade the Beaumont-Vitali, much like the Italian Vetterli Vitali, was obsolete by the time it was introduced. By 1890 nations began to adopt smokeless powder designs which used smaller caliber high velocity cartridges firing conical shaped spitzer bullets. Eventually the Dutch phased out the Beaumont-Vitali and replaced it with the M95 Steyr-Hembrug.

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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 possess, 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.

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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. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.