Original French MLE 1866-74 Gras Rifle by St. Étienne Shortened and Converted to Shotgun - Dated 1875 Military Books & Documents Clearly intended for a serving

Clearly intended for a serving Officer this pistol with all brass mounts is fully decorated in the military flavor displaying a stand of arms side plate

with a very interesting history

and was inactivated two days later

The device in the centre of the wing is an ancient astronomical instrument called a armillary sphere

There is some runner wear and areas of light staining

Original French MLE 1866-74 Gras Rifle by St. Étienne Shortened and Converted to Shotgun - Dated 1875 Military Books & Documents Clearly intended for a servingOriginal Item: Only One Available. The Fusil Gras Modle 1874 was a French service rifle of the 19th century. The Gras used by the French Army was an adaptation to metallic cartridge of the Chassepot breech loading rifle by Colonel Basile Gras. This example was originally a needle fire Chassepot, the French ignition system introduced in 1866. It was a single shot bolt action rifle and was among the best of its kind at the type, being superior to the