Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is an original French Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80 infantry rifle manufactured at Châtellerault and dated 1881, complete with an original Model 1874 Gras T-backed sword bayonet and steel scabbard. The rifle is serial numbered AB 90255 on the barrel and bayonet stand, retains the M80 action modification, and shows the honest wear and repair expected from a long military service life.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 was developed as a metallic cartridge adaptation of the earlier Chassepot Mle 1866 needle fire rifle and became one of the principal French service rifles of the late 19th century. The design is associated with Colonel Basile Gras, and early examples included conversions of existing Chassepot rifles as well as newly manufactured arms.

This rifle is marked on the receiver:

MANUFACTURE D'ARMES
Châtellerault
M. 80

with the model designation:

Mle 1874

to the right.

The right side of the barrel nocks form is clearly dated:

C. 1881

indicating manufacture at Châtellerault in 1881.

The M80 marking identifies the later modification to the action, which added a gas escape channel to the bolt head and receiver to help vent gas in the event of a ruptured primer. The receiver on this example shows the corresponding modification.

The rifle bears serial number:

AB 90255

on the barrel and bayonet stand. The bolt and stock carry different serial numbers, indicating that parts were replaced or exchanged at some point during the rifle’s service life. Such mismatching is not unusual on rifles that remained in service, storage, or later reserve use after becoming obsolete.

The metalwork remains in good service used condition. There is evidence of older oxidation followed by cleaning, with light pitting visible along portions of the barrel beneath the wood line. The markings show some general wear, giving the rifle the appearance of an arm that saw extended use and exposure to the elements. The original cleaning rod is missing.

The bolt cycles through its normal range of movement and the firing mechanism releases when operated. It sticks just a bit when fully retracted. The bore is in very good visual condition, appearing mostly bright with strong lands and grooves. There is overall wear from use, and the bore near the muzzle is somewhat darker from old oxidation.

The stock is in good service used condition and has developed a dark appearance from age, handling, and accumulated dirt. It shows the expected dents, dings, scratches, and other marks from military use, including several scratched inscriptions in the butt stock area. The original stock cartouche surrounding the boxwood “Holy Water Plug” insert is now only faintly visible. The MA marking formerly present on the plug is also worn away. A partial crack runs through the bottom of the wrist and extends into the butt stock. This area shows an old wooden dowel repair, indicating a previous effort to reinforce the stock.

Included with the rifle is an original Model 1874 Gras sword bayonet with T-backed blade and steel scabbard. The bayonet remains in good condition, with a bright steel blade showing little corrosion and retaining its period arsenal markings.

The T-shaped spine of the blade is marked:

M're d'Armes de St. Tulle Juin 1880

indicating manufacture at the Tulle Arsenal in June 1880.

The bayonet hilt shows normal service wear, with oxidation and light peppering on the steel components and wear to the wooden grip scales. Large X-shaped marks have been carved into the grips. The round top portion of the locking button is missing.

The steel scabbard remains in very good condition and fits the bayonet properly. Much of the original blued finish is still present, with localized oxidation near the upper portion, likely from extended contact with a leather frog that is no longer present.

With its 1881 Châtellerault manufacture, M80 action modification, AB 90255 barrel and bayonet stand serial, very good visible bore, long service patina, repaired stock, and accompanying June 1880 Tulle Model 1874 bayonet with original scabbard, this is a particularly appealing French Gras rifle set. The mismatched bolt and stock numbers, cleaned oxidation, barrel line pitting, stock crack and dowel repair, missing cleaning rod, carved bayonet grips, and incomplete locking button are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a French military rifle, Gras system, Châtellerault arsenal, Franco-Prussian era successor, or advanced 19th century European service arms collection.

Specifications (Rifle):-
Year of Manufacture: 1881
Caliber: 11×59mmR Gras
Maker: Châtellerault Arsenal
Model: Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 Inches
Overall Length: 51.4 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: Single Shot

Specifications (Bayonet):-
Blade Length: 20 1/2"
Blade Style: T-shaped
Overall length: 25 3/8"
Crossguard: 4”
Scabbard Length: 21 1/8"

The French Fusil "Gras" Modèle 1874 Rifle had a caliber of 11mm and used black powder centerfire cartridges that weighed 25 grams. It was a robust and hard-hitting weapon, but it had no magazine and so could only fire one shot after loading. It also had a triangular-shaped sword bayonet, known as the Model 1874 "Gras" sword bayonet. It was replaced by the Lebel rifle in 1886, the first rifle to use smokeless gunpowder. In the meantime, about 400,000 Gras rifles had been manufactured.

The metallic-cartridge Gras was manufactured in response to the development of the metallic cartridge designed by Colonel Boxer in 1866 (Boxer cartridge), and the British 1870 Martini-Henry rifle. Those were soon emulated by the Germans with the 1871 Mauser.

The Hellenic Army adopted the Gras in 1877, and it was used in all conflicts up until the Second World War. It became the favourite weapon of Greek guerrilla fighters, from the various revolts against the Ottoman Empire to the resistance against the Axis, acquiring legendary status. The name entered the Greek language, and grades (γκράδες) was a term colloquially applied to all rifles during the first half of the 20th century. It was manufactured by various arms factories in France, though most of the rifles sent to Greece were made by the ŒWG Austrian Arms Factory at Steyr.

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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.