SOLD FRENCH MODEL 1866 CHASSEPOT NEEDLE RIFLE EXCEPTIONAL EXAMP

IN ANTIQUE EXCELLENT CONDITION WE HAVE A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF AN ALL MATCHING FRENCH 1868 PRODUCTION MODEL 1866 NEEDLE RIFLE. THIS RIFLE IS ALL MATCHING AND IS UNIT MARKED AS WELL. THIS WAS THE FRENCH RIFLE IN USE DURING THE FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR. THIS RIFLE WAS FAR SUPERIOR TO THE GERMAN DREYSE RIFLE FIELDED BY THE PRUSSIANS DUE TO THE USE OF A SMALLER CALIBER OF HIGHER VELOCITY. AFTER THE WAR MOST OF THESE RIFLES WERE CONVERTED TO METALLIC CARTRIDGE USE HOWEVER THIS RIFLE IS STILL IN THE ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION. THESE RIFLES ARE SELDOM SEEN OR OFFERED FOR SALE AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM THEY ARE IN VERY POOR CONDITION. THIS IS ABSOLUTLEY A MUSEUM GRADE EXAMPLE AND WE ARE PLEASED TO OFFER IT TO YOU.