1874 Gras Rifle find.

[dbmjr1]

I've come across a St Etienne Manufactured Gras 1874 rifle. Made in 1880 and all matching as far as I have figured, so far.

It came to me missing three screws. The tang screw, and the two wood screws that hold the trigger guard. They've been ordered.

For now, I'm gently cleaning it up and getting to know it. Eventually I'll pass it along, as I'm not a collector of French rifles.

The bore is remarkably good for a black powder rifle that is over 140 year old.

Chambered for 11 X 59R. An obsolete black powder cartridge.

In any event, pictures.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Wow, very cool!

And I thought I was the only one who bought old guns just to rescue them and pass on again!

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Nice condition for a Gras -- French milsurps were often recycled to their colonies, rode hard and put away wet.

 

[AlexanderA]

The Greeks also used the Gras. But, unable to get them from France, they contracted with Steyr in Austria to make them. The Greek Gras are identical to the French, except for the receiver marking.

Greece ordered a total of 129,000 Gras rifles, carbines, etc. from Steyr between 1877 and 1886. 77,000 remained in service in 1923, and 60,000 as late as 1940.

This was officially replaced by the Mannlicher-Schoenauer (also made by Steyr) in 1903.

 

[dbmjr1]

Wow, very cool!

And I thouht I was the only one who bought old guns just to rescue them and pass on again!

I enjoy cleaning them up. I have all of the tools, as I manage a gun shop.

I'm not really a collector of antique military rifles, but I know others are. Still I find all of the markings and the history to be fascinating. I'll hopefully find a collector who will appreciate this one, and give it a good home. It's 141 years old, if my arithmetic is correct. I'm amazed the stock has survived intact. It's never been sanded, and won't be on my watch. The Cartouches are still deep and clear.

This was given to me by the gunsmith who retired a few years back. He was going to re-barrel it to .410. Apparently this was a thing, as there is one in 12ga available for sale on gun broker at last check.
There are vise marks on the receiver and I can see where metal was moved on the octagon portion of the barrel where he tried, unsuccessfully, to get the barrel off.
We're all glad he failed.