Very nice rifle! I just bought a Gras 1866/1874/80 Gendarmerie Carbine. It's a fine rifle, has all matching numbers and is in great condition. It's life started as an 1866 Chassepot, which is quite cool. The barrel date is S.1886 N, meaning it's a very late Chassepot-Gras conversion. Either that or it got re-barreled in 1886. I think the "N" means the barrel was new in 1886.
That’s is sooooo cool! I love the carbines what a fantastic find! I have some chamber inserts on the way for the Gras I’ll be doing a video on as soon as they arrive you should watch an consider getting some if you haven’t already
I have a Gras Cavalry Carbine coming today from RTI. I hope my Gras is a 66-74-80. I bought a Gras as I have several 1871 50-70 Springfield Ward-Burtons. A very rare bolt action carbine of which only 300 were made and 2 bolt action rifles if which only 1000 were made. The Ward-Burton saw service in the Yellowstone expedition and even Custers 7th Cavalry had 56 or the 300 carbines. The Little Big Horn battle site has yielded some 50-70 bullets and casings from some Ward-Burtons that were used there. Bolt action rifles were not well received as they had no hammer and a soldier using one couldn't see if it was loaded and ready to fire.
Rare rifles indeed!!! The Host is well versed in Cavalry history having served 12 years in the U.S. Army as a Cavalry Scout. It was terribly unfortunate for Custer that he decided to leave his Gatlins behind but none the less his troopers fought as hard as they could. We are hoping to add a Springfield 50-70 to the collection one day.
@@BigBoyRabbit420 My RTI Cavalry Carbine was really nice. It did have a ground down rear sight and missing the cleaning rod, but the bore was amazing, the stock while old and dark yet the wood grain has tiger flames. It would look spectacular if refinished, however I like it just the way it is. The right side of the cheek piece once had brass tacks it the shape of a cross. It also is dated 1878, which makes it an early carbine.
@@micmacpole whoa! That is awesome, we love seeing trench art on milsurp. These Gras were made with good metal because we have successfully and accurately shot two of the five we have. We plan on firing all five just taking a lot of diligent cleaning
@@BigBoyRabbit420 Hoppe's #9 really cleans out the bore of a black powder rifle with a brass brush cleaning rod. My Gras was very dirty from storage. The internal parts of barrel, bolt and receiver were apparently covered with oil when placed in storage and there was no rust or corrosion on the inside, just 100 years of dust sticking to the oil.
@@micmacpole I love when when they leave them alone coming out of storage. The Gahendras I got untouched from IMA over a decade ago were thick with grease and dirt but looked like the day they were stored underneath. So glad to hear you scored one that was spared from the wire wheel!!
so holding in place after a light strike is good, but after that don't grab the round with you hands, just open the action and let it fall somewhere and let it sit for a while. if you grab it with your hands and it decides to go off then you will have a very bad day.
I remember reading in several surplus arms magazines years ago, that these rifles were difficult to find in any condition. They must have found the last of the last. Some day, I'm gonna have to check RTI out. Btw, the best way to ensure, that you don't blow up your rifles, are to have them checked by a local gunsmith, who knows about antique weapons. Then, try to find the correct ammunition. I'm actually surprised it went off?
Oh yea, we have a bunch of old blackpowder Kynoch and surplus ammo that’s 100ish years old. They all tend to hang fire a touch. The Gahendra is the longest time between trigger pull and ignition but still able to produce 1” groups at 75yds. You should go check out us firing the Gahendra!
@@charlene2400 I am talking about the converted bomb rods. I suppose if I could get my hands on an original using the low pressure black powder I would give it a go.
@@BigBoyRabbit420 they were used into the smokeless era, and had loads for them, using plated bullets. About 21-1/2gr of 5744 an lil dab of cotton ball on top. I like Berry's 44mag 240gr .429 hollow points.
@@charlene2400 thank you for the info. My producer pointed out the junkers you were talking about on RTI. I am very interested in grabbing two or three of them unfortunately we have already exhausted this months budget with 6 new milsurps, a big shipment of ammo from across the board for testing, and so so so many parts just an avalanche of parts. Been working in the fab shop on reproduction stuff that I need to debut and we should “should” be hooking the power up to our new shop next week. It has a studio in it for us to shoot all kinds of good content on restoration, handloading/hand rolling ammo, and how we make our in house reproductions.
I pour boiling water down my bores and any other parts that may have been affected and it works well. Just have to be careful about being burned as it will heat up the barrel quick.
Yes the ammonia neutralizes the salts. And HECK YEA we use hot water!! When I’m firing paper cartridge guns as soon we complete firing we pull the nipple an soak with windex then as soon as we get back to the shop start boiling the big crawfish pot of water. Absolute best way to clean blackpowder hands down.
Buying ex african abused garbage guns from a scam company is one dumb thing, but then loading said harbage rod with antique ammo is another. Save your money and buy non RTI junk
