What is this?

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schick

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I know this might not be exactly related to this discussion area, but I figure that this firearm might have started as a military weapon.

I have received a GEHA in what appears to 16 gauge, and another shotgun in 12 gauge. I just can't identify this other shotgun. Just what the heck is this thing? Any help would sure be appreciated. (sorry if the picture size is too big, I thought that it might help in identification)

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This baby has one of the hardest trigger pulls I have ever tried, and that's considering I own Norincos. :)
 
Looks like a French M1866 Chassepot converted to a shotgun 12 guage. Thousands of these were done c1885-1920. Adolf Frank catalogue lists these at 22 Marks in 1911 along with converted Gras , Mauser M1871, Tabatierre(Zulu), Albini, Remington rolling block and Beaumont.
 
That bolt and action is very mosin nagant. Can you pull the hammer back and turn it so it catches on the reciever acting like a safety?

On the third photo down on the top of the bolt it looks like there's an arrow mark on it. Could that be an Izhevsk or Sestroretsk marking?

There's one more thing to think about, if I'm not mistaken the "Nagant" portion of Mosin Nagant is named after a Belgian man, but I thought he designed just the magazine and feeding system? Could this be a Nagant designed shotgun?
 
As noted above, its was at one time a French Chassepot Model 1866 Rifle, that cocking piece is a dead give-away. It was Converted to a shotgun, the Belgians made conversions of old military rifle a thriving cottage industry in the late 19th Century.

Chassepot 1866 Bolt
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Gras 1874 Bolt
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Thanks evryone. After reading these posts I looked around the net and found a few images to confirm that this definitely started as a Chassepot Model 1866. Unfortunately, there seems to be no information around about these as shotguns. It's great to know they are a black powder shotgun.

I received this shotgun together with a nice old Geha. Side by side they make a very intersting looking couple.

I think I need to find and invest in books about old firearms like this.
 
"...need to find and invest in books..." Sadly, books have gotten horrendously expensive. Start in your local public library. Most of 'em have a fairly good selection. Then hit the gun shows. Amazon is another source for books.
 
What a pain in the *** getting this verified was. I started on Saturday and finally got in done on Tuesday. It was very awkward.

"This was a Chassepot bolt rifle, converted to shotgun in Belgium"

Her response, "Is this a double barreled rifle?"

"No Ma'am."

She was trying her best, but finally needed to grab a tech. She wasn't too thrilled when the next one I tried to verify was a Geha, followed by 2 Carcanos.
 
While only CFC verifiers are sufficiently skilled to verify a firearm sight unseen, there are folks here on CGN who could have looked up the FaRT numbers for you.
Then when you called the CFC, having the FaRT number at hand would help the CFC verifier find the entry. Might save you some time.
Incidentally, there is an interesting parallel in these two shotguns - both are examples of surplus military firearms being reworked into shotguns for the civilian market - but in different eras.
 
French Model 1874 GRAS rifle, converted after War One. CHASSEPOT conversion is very smiliar BUT cocking piece is different because of the old needle-type pin of the Chassepot rifle. This is a Gras. Check chamber length before shooting.

Gras built 1874 through 1886.
 
A friend has one of these, and we used to have a 16 Ga. version at home when I was a kid. I think the Hudson Bay Co. bought lots of these to sell through their trading posts. The buddy who has one, dug up the remains of another one while recovering lures in the North Channel of Lake Huron. Duck Hunting accident?
 
smellie said:
French Model 1874 GRAS rifle, converted after War One. CHASSEPOT conversion is very smiliar BUT cocking piece is different because of the old needle-type pin of the Chassepot rifle. This is a Gras. Check chamber length before shooting.

Gras built 1874 through 1886.
Click to expand...

Nope, it's a chassepot. I have a Gras and the bolt is quite different. While the cocking pierce is similar, it is also different.
 
Definitely a Chassepot since it has a one piece cocking piece. The Gras cocking piece has a separate fireing pin retainer.
 
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