Product Details
A GOOD 17MM FRENCH MODEL 1853/67 TABATIERE INFANTRY RIFLE,
with 39in. polished bright barrel having a block and blade front-sight and tangent rear-sight, back-action lock engraved to the centre "Mm. IMP DE CHATELLERAULT" iron mounted full walnut stock, including butt-plate two piece trigger-guard the strap with finger grooves, and three barrel bands, the butt is profusely French ordnance inspection marked with the Imperial roundel dated 1857 and the central "Popes Plug" marked "M. I."
Provenance: The Tabatiere rifle so called as its action reminded the French of a snuff-box, is basically a variation on the flip breech Snider although the French never acknowledged this and did not pay a royalty to Jacob Snider. The system was adopted to convert French muzzle loading rifles to breech-loaders, adopted after the Chassepot and decidely inferior. It was relegated to rear echelon troops but by the mid 1870's had been largely withdrawn. Many were scrapped and many converted into cheap shotguns marketed as "The Zulu", making good examples such as this quite rare.
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Estimate £300-500
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament