{"product_id":"original-french-fusil-gras-modele-1874-m80-infantry-rifle-by-chatellerault-dated-1881-serial-no-ab-90255-with-m1874-bayonet-and-scabbard","title":"Original French Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80 Infantry Rifle by Châtellerault, Dated 1881, Serial No. AB 90255 with M1874 Bayonet and Scabbard","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Set Available. This is an original French Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80 infantry rifle manufactured at \u003cem\u003eChâtellerault \u003c\/em\u003eand dated \u003cstrong\u003e1881\u003c\/strong\u003e, complete with an original Model 1874 Gras T-backed sword bayonet and steel scabbard. The rifle is serial numbered \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAB \u003c\/em\u003e90255\u003c\/strong\u003e on the barrel and bayonet stand, retains the \u003cstrong\u003eM80\u003c\/strong\u003e action modification, and shows the honest wear and repair expected from a long military service life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rifle is marked on the receiver:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMANUFACTURE D'ARMES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eChâtellerault\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM. 80\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ewith the model designation:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMle 1874\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eto the right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side of the barrel nocks form is clearly dated:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC. 1881\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eindicating manufacture at Châtellerault in 1881.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle bears serial number:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAB\u003c\/em\u003e 90255\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eon 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIncluded 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe T-shaped spine of the blade is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eM're d'Armes de St. Tulle Juin 1880\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eindicating manufacture at the Tulle Arsenal in June 1880.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications (Rifle):-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1881\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: 11×59mmR Gras\u003cbr\u003eMaker: Châtellerault Arsenal\u003cbr\u003eModel: Fusil Gras Modèle 1874 M80\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 32 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 51.4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Bolt-Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Single Shot\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications (Bayonet):-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 20 1\/2\"\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: T-shaped\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 25 3\/8\"\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 4”\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 21 1\/8\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 (\u003cstrong\u003eγκράδες\u003c\/strong\u003e) 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45570022965317,"sku":"ONSV25WSO051","price":1095.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/B1B7B28F-1155-4ED3-82DB-1B31DE61C4C1.jpg?v=1786996546","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-french-fusil-gras-modele-1874-m80-infantry-rifle-by-chatellerault-dated-1881-serial-no-ab-90255-with-m1874-bayonet-and-scabbard","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}