pumpitup Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 Anybody have any idea what this is? Its a 12g bolt action shotgun, and appears to have 'cast steel' stamped in the top of the barrel just forward of the breech. No other ident on it. Anyone??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted January 28, 2008 Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 Looks a bit like a converted chassepot rifle. I know a lot of those were converted to shotguns in the late 19th/early 20th century, as well as another, similar looking rifle. You will notice in the link below that there are a few differences, so Isuspect it could be one of the chassepot looky-likeys, I will xrack my brains to remember what they were called! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chassepot-p1000739.jpg Hope this helps Zapp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted January 28, 2008 Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 Ok, another candidate, The Gras rifle: http://www.gunsworld.com/french/gras/gras_pic_us.html I would say it is likely one of these with a new barrel, breech and bolt. Zapp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpitup Posted January 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 Ok, another candidate, The Gras rifle: http://www.gunsworld.com/french/gras/gras_pic_us.html I would say it is likely one of these with a new barrel, breech and bolt. Zapp Thanks ZB, I reckon your spot on there. :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted January 28, 2008 Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 No worries mate, glad I could be of help :unsure: Zapp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted January 28, 2008 Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) A bit more info if you are interested (this caught my eye because my uncle used to have one of these years ago). As far as I can make out it is a converted Gras Mle. 1874. The guns were converted in the UK by a company called "Cambridge Arms" at around 1900. The guns are incredibly dangerous, as the action is held closed by the bolt handle alone, and the back of the cartridge is largely exposed (and on the shooter's eyeline) when the gun is loaded. Some conversions were better than others (I attach a link to a nice example, with a better bolt and a less military-looking stock than the one in your pictures), but they were generally (rightly) regarded as total junk. http://www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=2475 Geek mode off now! Zapp Edited January 28, 2008 by Zapp Brannigan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpitup Posted January 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2008 A bit more info if you are interested (this caught my eye because my uncle used to have one of these years ago). As far as I can make out it is a converted Gras Mle. 1874. The guns were converted in the UK by a company called "Cambridge Arms" at around 1900. The guns are incredibly dangerous, as the action is held closed by the bolt handle alone, and the back of the cartridge is largely exposed (and on the shooter's eyeline) when the gun is loaded. Some conversions were better than others (I attach a link to a nice example, with a better bolt and a less military-looking stock than the one in your pictures), but they were generally (rightly) regarded as total junk. http://www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=2475 Geek mode off now! Zapp Thanks Zapp, you really are a fountain of knowledge! Your info is greatly appreciated. Top banana!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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