You are bidding on a large, very rare original antique engraving from an 1860s French illustrated journal.
It depicts two "perfect" rifles, shown in full and then closeups of the chambers open and a diagram of the firing mechanism.
The first was the Martini designed by Swiss designer Friedrich von Martini and made Jean-Louis François Devisme in Paris, France. It is a predecessor to the Martini–Henry (a breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle first used by the British Army in 1871).
The second is the the Chassepot Model 1866. The Chassepot, officially known as Fusil modèle 1866, was a bolt action military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the French forces in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/1871. It replaced an assortment of Minié muzzleloading rifles many of which were converted in 1867 to breech loading (the Tabatière rifles). A great improvement to existing military rifles in 1866, the Chassepot marked the commencement of the era of modern bolt action, breech-loading, military rifles. Beginning in 1874, the rifle was easily converted to fire metallic cartridges (under the name of Gras rifle), a step which would have been impossible to achieve with the Dreyse needle rifle. It was manufactured by MAS (Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne), Manufacture d'Armes de Châtellerault (MAC), Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) and, until 1870, in the Manufacture d'Armes de Mutzig in the former Château des Rohan.
The caption reads: Armes Perfectionnees
which roughly translates to: Advanced Weapons
It is very large (folio size), measuring approximately 10.5 x 14.5 inches (26.5 x 36.5 cm). The picture fills most of it, with a French caption below and text surrounding it.
The page is in excellent condition for its age. There is text/photos on the back of the print. See scan for an accurate view of the condition.
It depicts two "perfect" rifles, shown in full and then closeups of the chambers open and a diagram of the firing mechanism.
The first was the Martini designed by Swiss designer Friedrich von Martini and made Jean-Louis François Devisme in Paris, France. It is a predecessor to the Martini–Henry (a breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle first used by the British Army in 1871).
The second is the the Chassepot Model 1866. The Chassepot, officially known as Fusil modèle 1866, was a bolt action military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the French forces in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/1871. It replaced an assortment of Minié muzzleloading rifles many of which were converted in 1867 to breech loading (the Tabatière rifles). A great improvement to existing military rifles in 1866, the Chassepot marked the commencement of the era of modern bolt action, breech-loading, military rifles. Beginning in 1874, the rifle was easily converted to fire metallic cartridges (under the name of Gras rifle), a step which would have been impossible to achieve with the Dreyse needle rifle. It was manufactured by MAS (Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne), Manufacture d'Armes de Châtellerault (MAC), Manufacture d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) and, until 1870, in the Manufacture d'Armes de Mutzig in the former Château des Rohan.
The caption reads: Armes Perfectionnees
which roughly translates to: Advanced Weapons
It is very large (folio size), measuring approximately 10.5 x 14.5 inches (26.5 x 36.5 cm). The picture fills most of it, with a French caption below and text surrounding it.
The page is in excellent condition for its age. There is text/photos on the back of the print. See scan for an accurate view of the condition.
This print will come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
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