The Armoury - Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills

Mousqueton d'Artillerie Gras Modele 1874 M 80

Mousqueton d'Artillerie Gras Modele 1874  M 80

Description

Artillery carbine version of the Gras Model 1874 infantry rifle FTA 128. This was the shortest of the carbine variants of the Gras, being shorter than the cavalry version, but with a bayonet lug to fit the standard 1874 bayonet, or a slightly modified 1866 bayonet. The weapon also has brass furniture unlike the iron fittings of the long rifle. 'M80' on the breech refers to the addition of a groove around the bolt-head to allow gas escape in the vent of a cartridge failure, a modification of 1880.

Marks and Stamps: (L side of barrel) Serial no , proof stamps (R side of barrel) S 1879 MA (L side of receiver) MANUFACTURE D'ARMES St Etienne MLE 1874 M80 (Bolt head) 16033 (non-matching serial no)

Specifications

Accession Number: 32 Period of Use: 1874 - 1900s
Type: Black powder rifle War Zones:
Country of Origin: France Type Date: 1874
Manufacturer: Manufacture d'Armes de St. Etienne Serial Number: 63806
Manufacture Date: 1879 Calibre/Ammunition: 11mm
Weight: 3250g Length Overall: 993mm
Cyclic Rate: Single shot Length Barrel: 489mm
Deactivation Certificate Number: Antique

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