Would this be an antique? With Pics

I beg to differ partially; I had a tabatiere in my hands a few weeks ago; it had a deeply rifled barrel. The problem with the Zulu however is that is no longer a tabatierre; they were bored out smooth. If you took the barrel out and replaced it with a rifled shotgun barrel, however, it would return to antique status.

cheers mooncoon
 
Yes, that is correct. Tabatieres were originally rifles. Rarely though is one in original condition seen. Most of the ones that turn up are the shotgun conversions done in large numbers, and sold very cheaply. If its a 12ga. shotgun, its not antique. If a rifled barrel were installed, of greater than, what, 8.3mm, then it would be an antque.
 
Thanks tiriaq and mooncoon,

The one I am interested in is a 12 guage and in the US, so no go. I really like the tabatiere, it is a beautiful rifle. Mooncoon, did you buy the Tabi? I will keep looking for one, but I will probably have to settle for a converted shotgun. Anyway here are pics of a French Tabatiere Short Rifle, that was for sale on Gunbroker, for those of us who have never seen one.

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SW



mooncoon said:
I beg to differ partially; I had a tabatiere in my hands a few weeks ago; it had a deeply rifled barrel. The problem with the Zulu however is that is no longer a tabatierre; they were bored out smooth. If you took the barrel out and replaced it with a rifled shotgun barrel, however, it would return to antique status.

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...
 
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Most of the shotguns I have seen are in pretty grim condition. Some have cast brass receivers; I suspect that many of the shotguns were never actual service issue Tabatiere rifles, but were made up using left over French and Belgian rifled musket parts, and commercial breeches.
I suspect that the survival rate for Tabatieres is lower than for Snider rifles.
 
Wish I could have bought the one that I saw; it got turned into the local military museum and a friend who does minor overhauls and cleanups on their guns showed it to me. The trouble with Zulus is that not only are they smoothbore and in rough shaped but the stocks have been chopped relative to converting back.
As Tiriaq says; the rifle is uncommon; this one is the only one that I have ever seen.

cheers mooncoon
 
Gee, I wonder if the design was borrowed from Snider... lol. Nice specimen in those pics though!

Now who has pics of their pristine German captured Chassepot 11mm Mauser Mutzig or Amberg conversion? ;)
 
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