Variations on Gras Cavalry Carbines & Conversions from Ethiopia 

You can just hear the joy in Ian's voice when he talks about French guns

“The Ethiopians evidently really hated rear sights and took them off quite regularly.” Warfare in Africa is truly unbelievable.

Who cares how many of us are interested in the topic of the video, as long as it interests YOU.

I not only watched all of the way through, I watched it a second time with my 66/74 carbine and my 74 rifle on my lap to see some of the differences. Apparently mine have never been to Ethiopia. Great video!

I can imagine a gunssmith receiving a truckload of random parts and being asked to create guns for Ethiopia out of that lot... and then receiving another and another...

While this video is of little practical use to me (I don't collect these), I want to say that I still really enjoy your dedication to your work in making sure there is a resource video out there for anyone who might need this for collection purposes. I also do enjoy the history on these weapons a lot. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this wonderful channel 😁

Oh yeah, extremely specific videos about distinguishing nuances in a particular model of firearm. I love these 👍

I wish I had anything in my life that made me feel the way Ian feels about Ethiopian conversions

This was a great topic very interesting and informative. I personally find videos on the lives these old things have gone through way more interesting than some new 6 thousand dollar modern bench rifle. Thank you for bringing us the forgotten ones!!

This is just very interesting, Ethiopia has some incredible weapons history ❤

Gather information when available you never know when you might need it. Thanks Ian!

What who isn’t excited by a Gras video and even better a Gras Carbine !

I love videos that are just pure DATA. It's like an excel spreadsheet but in a video! The archival nature of your videos is one of my favorite things about your channel. It's like a museum!

Just screaming out for a Bloke, Chap and Ian deep dive 😍

In this spin off episode of 'Forgotten Weapons: Ian's Quest to video catalog the French Armory' - We see our protaganist pull off a genius move that his future self will certainly be thankful for. For those of you who wondered what happened to all of the Gras we saw in Episode 27, BUCKLE UP BABY, WOO!

Love it ian keep up the work. Your the one who inspired my intrest in firearms and military history. On ne passe pas!

I'm still listening!! Your voice is one of the best for learning by hearing. I have been watching you for 5 years, almost and I love it, I can't get enough of it. Keep goining Ian teach us the way of the forgotten firearms

Can't wait for the video on that absolutely *stunner* of a DeLonghi MAGNIFICA ESAM 3200.s back there! Maybe even take it out to the range?

At least Ian understands no body is interested in the minor variations of the Gras. Most of us just like watching him explain interesting things regardless of the specific content.

Never a dull moment with you Ian. Always find your videos most interesting and often as in this case I learn something I was never aware of previously.

Another very good episode as usual.

I love these kind of videos Ian

I know appeasing the algorithm is the name of the game here on YT but it hardly needs to be stated that obscure firearms minutiae is the the bread and butter of why I love this channel in the first place. Not to mention many times the interesting history is burried in such details; a tangible touchstone of what once was through the lense of military procurement.

This is the good stuff

Thank You for your Work. Happy New Year

Thanks Ian for explaining the different variations of this rifle.

Great video, Ian, very informative!

I love the way Ian said it would probably interest " about three " viewers . Ian You are seriously underrating Yourself & Your channel so far at least 5.2K viewers Like what Your showing us . Thanks Ian keep up the good work .Shoot Straight Stay Safe & Stay Well.

Good video.

I'd never by one of these, but seeing the minor and major differences in a models and its conversions/ modifications is always educational.

Dear Ian, it not need to be useful, is enough to be interesting. Look at me, I cannot and I will not buy any firearm, but the way you explain how they work and what are the differences between the different types is excellent. So I enjoyed a lot! Thank you.

Man the stock on the infantry conversion is truly impressively worn. The amount of action that gun has seen is unimaginable

a great very interesting video and French rifles Mr.GJ.happy the Orthodox Christmas Mr.GJ.have a good one.

Interesting content, thanks for being such a wellspring of firearms history.

Loved this insight and history of a rifle I'm not very familiar with. Great to see so much diversity of weapons. Cheers Ian!

Awesome. Thanks Ian

Ian, I used to think that having a rifle and a shotgun was all I would ever need. Then I deployed to parts of the world that were quite unfriendly, so when I got home I bought a pistol in .40cal, because everyone was packing 9mm and I'm just a little contrary.. that lasted several years, and then I found Forgotten Weapons..... Now I have a collection. And there is a whisper in the wind "Chassepot...."

Thank You for getting this just at the right moment.❤

Always interesting! Thanks

All great info! Time not wasted! Thank you.

The bayonets for these rifles are very interesting too I have a few

Hey Ian. In from SA! Love your program!

Great job, Ian. Trying to gather those variations a year from now might be impossible (or expensive). Firearms development is an integral part of human history.

Thanks Ian!

Interesting. I'll have to take a look at the Gras I inherited more now. Mines a bit different since it seems to have rebarrelled / bored out to 12ga

Great rabbit hole. I was still awake.

Gun Jesus on Gallic Oddballs. Great start to another Forgotten Weapons Year!

Glad to be one of the 3!

I enjoyed it! I had a Chassepot bayonet for decades and finally sold it just in time for these to become available…

Hi. From one of the three people! As a side note, I have one of the Gras Artillery Musketoons. The smallest variant. I can categorically and unequivocally say that it’s the most painful rifle I’ve ever shot. The small size and configuration just makes it really uncomfortable. For anyone wondering what it feels like, take a broken three inch diameter tree branch, hold it like a rifle and have your mate belt the other end as hard as they can with a sledge hammer.

Glad you made this video! I was wondering why mine were different… I got three from RTI. Now I know!

I may not be a Gras officianado but dear god I love learning about the niche nuances of variations in firearms beyond what most people are willing to dig into, so make that 4 people. Take us all the way down to the bottom of the iceburg! Seriously. So much gun info available to us is barely under the surface even though the folks producing it have the best intentions. Your willingness, and enthusiasm for, getting deep down into that niche info for so many firearm topics that's otherwise "that one guy you know who is weirdly obsessed with this one specific thing and has knowledge of it that borders on arcane forbidden lore" is really insightful and meaningful. If not for your work, I would probably never have become interested in firearms at all, never-mind all of the history and craft outside of the usual 1941-onwards american/german/british. So, thank you.

I was one of the three that made it to the end. By "four winds of the market" I assume Ian means his basement.

I definitely watched the entire video, thanks!

I doubt anyone will complain about Ian fangirling about french rifles.

These videos are why I watch this channel.

Ian, I have no interest in these rifles, but I still enjoyed learning about them. It is always interesting to see what modifications some firearms go through during their life. So, there are now at least 4 of us that watched this to the end.

I love the random pile of Lugers in the background.

Imagine the amount of action those Chassepot conversions have seen.

I would think Hollywood would want the Gras Cavalry Carbines for distance shots. That thing could sub in as about 50 different rifles. It just has those bare bones that look a little like a lot of other guns we've all seen in a background shot in a period movie.

10k views in 3hrs. We love you Ian.

Well I'm interested.

Woo!

Awesome!!

Nice to see another guest appearance by the InterOrdnance coffee machine.

I don’t care much about the topic, but I’m still gunna watch it cuz it’s Ian and he cares, and always makes it interesting.

Great Video Ian 💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥thank you

thank you

This video is exactly what the Forgotten Weapons site is all about to me.

Im not really into French rifles but I love to watch Ian talk about them...

Love videos like this one Ian, I’m sure the 3 was at least 300,000!

Thanks Ian. Think of all the variations that you can do with a M16 receiver.

I'm still watching and likely will never touch one of these guns. But I love the history.

I loved it.

Woooh! He's pandering to ME! This feels amazing.

"This will be of interest to all 3 of you." Did the French gun nerd just call me a French gun nerd? 11/10 love it.

I thought this video was great! I am teaching myself 3D modelling and would like to apply it to subjects like weapons. Seeing this variation of an seemingly standard rifle is fantastic. Small variations in parts and components will help to create a more realistic scene.

Love your content Ian. I love firearms and I love history. I have learned so much from your videos and will soon start buying your books. Thank you for helping guys and gals, hopefully, like me learn all this cool history. Maybe one day you can roast my "bubba'd" SKS. lol

Greece in total bought from Steyr (according to Stey's official records) 128.000 Gras 1874 rifles from 1877 till 1886, (22 March 1886 was the last recorded order for 1.000 rifles). The bayonets for the Greek order are marked "Waffenfabrik Steyr" and the year of manufacture. Greece have bought supplementary quantities of Gras rifles w/bayonets from France, this being the reason to find Greek alteration bayonets with various French makers inscriptions. There are also coversions with the inscription "Usine de Steyr". In use with supporting units of Greek Army until 1941 and the Battle of Crete.

It IS called forgotten weapons, yes?

I'd love to have a go

Ian. If you’re excited, I’m excited.

That was really interesting. Many collectors should be wanting an example or several of these historic pieces. Its not all about nazi machine guns. 😂THANKS 👍🏼

I'm with you, Ian. 1of the 3. Curious that I've never pulled nothing bigger than a.pellet-gun ( although some versions can be hyper-deadly ) . Still, I find your expertise and presentation skills fascinating. Big ups , to you and yours, at the start of this young year !

I'm in awe that someone could identify a Gendarme specific carbine from 150 years ago after all those modifications.

The s/n's shown in the video should command a premium price "as handled by Ian" ! :)

I watch even when I’m not interested in the specific firearm. Why not? It’s Gun Jesus. He deserves my ears and eyes for all the other crazy years of content. FREE CONTENT

Three guys and Ian....... worth a video.

Car-beans vs Car-bines, the eternal shitpost battle 🔫

Wow 150 years old, they have seen so much history!

I like watching for the little history lessons, even if I don't have that much interest in the firearms themselves.

Lose interest? No way. I have never heard of many of the guns you have videos of. I find it fascinating.

As Ian says only 3 people interested in this video I run to grab my Gras to find I have converted one. All the tell tails he lists are there.

I will never own one, but absolutely love the information.

Great video, i really enjoy the odd ball history and i know thats what im going to get when i see "Ethiopian" in the title

Cavalry carbines are really interesting, especially late cavalry - when traditional cavalry becomes obsolete.

I thought it was an awesome video. I'm gonna look for one to add to my slightly growing collection.

Thanks. Now I want a rifle with cursive letters.

The Ethiopian cache: the gift that keeps on giving.

Way more than 3 people interested, Ian!