Description
The first book in a series by authors Guy & Leonard A-R-West and the accumulation of several decades of collecting, researching and shooting antique firearms, this book features the French Modèle 1866 Chassepot.
Named after its inventor, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot (1833–1905) and officially known as Fusil Modèle 1866, the Chassepot was used to great effect by French forces in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71, marking a move away from muzzle-loading weapons and heralding the modern era of bolt-action, breech-loading, military rifles.
Using a similar ignition system to the Prussian Dreyse needle-fire rifle, but with a number of refinements, the Chassepot made its first appearance on the battlefield at Mentana on 3rd November 1867, where it inflicted severe losses on Garibaldi’s troops.
Manufactured in France at Saint-Étienne, Châtellerault, Tulle and Mutzig, many more were manufactured under contract in England, Belgium and Italy with the result that by the start of the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870, over a million of these weapons were available to the French Army.
This highly technical book contains a wealth of in-depth information that will be of particular interest to collectors and enthusiasts with detailed drawings and cutaways illustrating the breech and ignition mechanisms, distinctions between weapons made by different manufacturers, various kinds of ammunition, and much more.
The authors conclude by providing their evaluation of firing this weapon in comparison to other vintage firearms of the same era.
Details
Publisher - Woodfield Publishing
Language - English
Paperback
Contributors
Author
Leonard Alston-Roberts-West
Guy Alston-Roberts-West
Illustrated by
Guy Alston-Roberts-West
Published Date - July 09 2024
ISBN - 9781846831874
Dimensions - 29.7 x 21.0 x 1.0 cm
Page Count - 146
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