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In the Franco-Prussian War (1870/1871), the Chassepot met its Muzzle velocity 410 m/s (1345 ft/s)[1]
Prussian counterpart, the Dreyse needle-fire rifle. The Chassepot had Effective firing range 1,200 m (1,300 yd)
several advantages over the Dreyse. It featured a rubber obturator on Feed system Single-shot
its bolt head to provide a more efficient gas-seal. Although it fired a
Sights Ladder
smaller caliber (11 mm vs. 15.4 for the Dreyse), the Chassepot
ammunition had more gunpowder (5.68 grams vs 4.85 grams), resulting in higher muzzle velocity (436 meters per second, 33% over
the Dreyse), a flatter trajectory and a longer range. Thus the sights on the Chassepot could be elevated up to 1,600 meters, while the
maximum sight setting of the Dreyse was only 600 meters.[8] The Chassepots were responsible for most of the Prussian and other
German casualties during the conflict. After the war, 20,000 captured Chassepot rifles were sold to the Shah of the Persian Qajar
Dynasty.
Some of the warriors of theEthiopian Empire were equipped with Chassepot rifles during thefirst Italo-Ethiopian War of 1898.[9]
Technology
Bolt mechanism
The breech was closed by a bolt similar to those of more modern rifles to follow.
Amongst the technical features of interest introduced in 1866 on the Chassepot rifle
was the method of obturation of the bolt by a segmented rubber ring which expanded
under gas pressure and thus sealed the breech when the shot was fired. This simple
yet effective technology was successfully adapted to artillery in 1877 by Colonel de
Bange, who invented grease-impregnated asbestos pads to seal the breech of his new
cannons (the De Bange system).
While the Chassepot's ballistic performance and firing rates were excellent for the time, burnt paper residues as well as black powder
fouling accumulated in the chamber and bolt mechanism after continuous firing. Also, the bolt's rubber obturator eroded in action,
although it was easily replaced in the field by infantrymen. The older Dreyse needle gun and its cartridge had been deliberately
constructed in a way to minimize those problems but to the detriment of its ballistic properties.
In order to correct this problem the Chassepot was replaced in 1874 by the Gras rifle which used a centerfire drawn brass metallic
cartridge. Otherwise, the Gras rifle was basically identical in outward appearance to the Chassepot rifle. Nearly all rifles of the older
Chassepot model (Mle 1866) remaining in store were eventually converted to take the 11mm Gras metallic cartridge ammunition
(fusil Modèle 1866/74). About 665.327[5][10] Chassepot rifles had been captured by the German coalition that defeated France in
1871. Large numbers of these captured Chassepot rifles were converted to 11 mm Mauser metallic cartridge and shortened to carbine
size in order to serve with German cavalry and artillery until the early 1880s. Others were disposed of "as is" with British surplus
dealers. In most but not allcases, the French receiver markings on these German-captured Chassepot rifles had been erased.
Gallery
Chassepot paper French soldier with From left: .22 Long Rifle; Close-up, with cartridge
cartridge and boxes. Chassepot rifle. 11mm paper cartridge for
Chassepot/Fusil modèle
1866;
11mm×59.5R metallic
cartridge for Fusil Gras
mle 1874
See also
Antique gun
Notes
1. Ford, p. 23
2. New International Encyclopedia
3. Walter, John (2006). "Rifles of the World" (https://books.google.com/books?id=Eq2Dnj4sDZIC&pg=P
A87). Krause
Publications. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-89689-241-5.
4. "Zuendnadelgewehr Chassepot"(http://www.schmids-zuendnadelseite.de/chassepot.html). Schmids-
zuendnadelseite.de. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
5. "Bladstadt" (http://www.bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/Content/66492/GSL_P_31148_IV_1873_043.pdf)(PDF).
Bibliotekacyfrowa.pl (in Polish). 1873. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
6. "mousqueton" (http://www.alienor.org/collections-des-musees/fiche-objet-5465-mousqueton)
. Alienor.org. Retrieved
8 July 2018.
7. "CMPC Dossiers : De la bouche à la culasse"(http://www.alienor.org/publications/fusils/essai04.htm). Alienor.org.
Retrieved 8 July 2018.
8. Flatnes, Oyvind (2013).From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms
(https://boo
ks.google.com/books?id=U4p8AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT368). Crowood. p. 368. ISBN 978-1-84797-594-2.
9. McLachlan, Sean (20 September 2011).Armies of the Adowa Campaign 1896: The Italian Disaster in Ethiopia
. Men-
at-Arms 471. Osprey Publishing. p. 35. ISBN 9781849084574.
10. Walter, John (2006). Rifles of the World (https://books.google.com/books?id=Eq2Dnj4sDZIC&pg=P
A88). Krause
Publications. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-89689-241-5.
References
Ford, Roger. The World's Great RiflesLondon: Brown Books, 1998.ISBN 1-897884-33-8.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M.,
eds. (1905). "Chassepot".New International Encyclopedia(1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
External links
The French Army 1600–1900
Forgotten Weapons – Chassepot Needle Rifle
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