DESCRIPTION: French Chassepot M.1866 needle rifle made in St.Etienne in 1869, converted to unknown 9 mm center fire caliber. The quality and style of the rifle indicates that the conversion was done in Southern part of Germany. The rifle was most likely captured during the Franco-Prussian War, and consequently sold on the commercial market in Germany. The barrel has a high quality 9 mm liner. The bolt head was replaced to accommodate for the new caliber ammunition. Double set trigger. Swiss style rear sight. Very fancy Schutzen style trigger guard with floral engraving. The same style of engraving can also be found on the receiver, bolt and butt plate. The barrel is finished in blue, while the receiver, bolt, trigger guard, rear sight and butt plate has very nice case coloring finish. Nice diamond checkering on both sides of bolt handle. The stock also displays diamond checkering at the wrist. The butt plate displays initials, "SL" (German gunsmith?). The stock was shortened to the half-stock configuration. Complete with old style commercial cleaning rod. CONDITION: Low excellent. The blue finish on the barrel is nice and crisp, and it was preserved in about 96%. The condition of the case coloring finish on the other steel parts is very much the same, except for the butt plate, that is slightly worn. Bore is in fine+ condition with a strong rifling. Strong and crisp action. The original military stock was reworked and refinished during the conversion works. The butt stock has some handling marks, that may be a result of an attempt to replace a firing pin in the bolt long time ago (please, see pictures). Small horizontal hairline crack on the left side of the front part of the half-stock (please, see pictures). Fading serial number on the stock. Antique. Very attractive, high quality sporting rifle!
