Great War Rifles

[Steve1871]

Rifle #52.        
12/1/22

Mle. 74/80/14

Date.           
Maker.      Manufacture De Arms  Tulle    
Sn:             6168

 

I do not know too much about French arm’s, but as the legend say, was model 74 Gras, with a conversion for 1880, and converted again in 1914 for the war to reserve troops in the beginning of war. Has an exelent repair in stock. The two thing’s that stand out to me are the finish on receiver.  Does not seem to be regular bluing, that would wear evenly, going lighter shade till wears away or turns a brownish patina, the receiver here changes in spots with crisp edge to in. It does not seem to be paint, has too much of metallic tone

Tge second thing, on the butt. Besides the matching serial number, it has a larger number of 32173. Guessing a ( rack) number. 
 

A lot of small, deep, crisp small stampings, 

Edited 1 December , 2022 by Steve1871
Corrected

[Steve1871]

On Stampings, I notice several letters inside shapes, do the shapes denote the type inspection??   
On the flat of the bolt , a  M with a star above in an OVAL,  the same repeated on cocking piece/ rear bolt guide.  
others,    A. Inside a SHIELD.  
                F  inside a DIAMOND.     
                F  inside a DIAMOND stared.   
               B  Inside a SUNBURST?

[AndyBsk]

Interesting rifle, its barelled into 8mm Lebel? as normally the M14 should be done, the origin Tulle rifle was converted already post 1880 and secondly in WW1, the RT is correct for Tulle, but buttstock is serialed J 32173 which would be Saint Etienne production probably, but by similar conversion is this real.

Huon reports 146000 converted rifles in period november 1914 to october 1915.

The marking on bolt are inspectors marking of Tulle Gras 1874 production.

Edited 2 December , 2022 by AndyBsk

[Steve1871]

Thank’s Andy, great info, research as alway’s!