View source for Chassepot

{{Short description|French needle gun}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox weapon
| is_ranged          = yes
| name               = Chassepot
| image              = Chassepot-diag.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = Chassepot rifle with bayonet
| origin             = [[Second French Empire|France]]
| type               = [[Needle gun]]
| designer           = [[Antoine Alphonse Chassepot]]
| design_date        = 1858–1866
| used_by            = {{ubli|[[Second French Empire|France]]|[[Monaco]]|[[Kingdom of Bavaria]]|[[Kingdom of Saxony]]|[[Brazilian Empire]] (limited)|[[Peru]]|[[Bolivia]]|[[Kingdom of Dahomey]]|[[Qajar dynasty]]<ref>{{cite journal |title=Chassepot Rifles for Persia |journal=The Hampshire Advertiser |date=23 September 1874}}</ref>|[[Qing dynasty]]|[[Greece]]|[[Ethiopian Empire]]|[[Principality of Serbia]]|[[Tokugawa shogunate]]|[[Nguyễn dynasty]]|[[Wassoulou Empire]]}}
| wars               = {{ubli|[[Unification of Italy|Italian Wars of Unification]]|[[Franco-Prussian War]]|[[French colonial empire|French colonial conflicts]]|[[Second French intervention in Mexico]]|[[War of the Pacific]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Esposito |first=Gabriele |title=Armies of the War of the Pacific 1879–83 |publisher=Osprey |year=2016}}{{ISBN?}}</ref>|[[Boshin War]]|[[Revolution of 1880]]|[[Federalist Revolution]]|[[First Italo-Ethiopian War]]|[[Revolutions of 1917–1923]]|[[Rio Grande do Sul Revolt of 1924]]|Other conflicts}}
| service            = 1866–1874 (primary French service rifle)
| production_date    = 1866–1875
| cartridge          = {{ubli|Lead bullet {{cvt|25|g|gr|0}} in [[paper cartridge]]|Charge {{cvt|5.6|g|gr|1}} black powder}}
| action             = Bolt action
| rate               = 8–15 rounds per minute
| caliber            = 11 mm (.433 inches)
| velocity           = {{cvt|410|m/s|ft/s}}<ref name="Muzzle velocity">Ford, p. 23</ref>
| max_range          = {{ubli|{{convert|1200|m|yd|abbr=on}} service rifle|{{convert|1600|m|yd|abbr=on}} {{lang|fr|fusil pour la cavalerie d'Afrique}} model}}
| weight             = {{convert|4.635|kg|lboz}}
| length             = {{ubli|{{convert|1.31 |m|ftin|abbr=on}} without bayonet|{{convert|1.88|m|ftin|abbr=on}} with bayonet}}
| part_length        = {{convert|795|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| feed               = {{ubli|Single-shot|5-round non-detachable box magazine|8-round tubular magazine}}
| sights             = Ladder
| number             = ~2,000,000
}}

The '''Chassepot''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|æ|s|p|oʊ}} {{respell|SHAS|poh}}; {{IPA|fr|ʃas.po}}), officially known as '''{{lang|fr|Fusil modèle 1866}}''', was a [[Bolt action|bolt-action]] military [[Breechloader|breechloading]] [[rifle]]. It is famous for having been the arm of the French forces in the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–1871. It replaced an assortment of [[Muzzleloader|muzzleloading]] [[Minié rifle]]s, many of which were converted in 1864 to breech loading (the [[Tabatière rifle]]s). An improvement to existing military rifles in 1866, the Chassepot marked the commencement of the era of modern bolt action, breech-loading military rifles. The [[Fusil Gras mle 1874|Gras rifle]] was an adaptation of the Chassepot designed  to fire metallic cartridges introduced in 1874.

It was manufactured by {{lang|fr|[[Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne]]}} (MAS), {{lang|fr|[[Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault]]}} (MAC), {{lang|fr|Manufacture d'armes de Tulle}} (MAT), and, until 1870, in the {{lang|fr|Manufacture d'armes de Mutzig}} in the former [[Château des Rohan (Mutzig)|Château des Rohan]]. Many were also manufactured under contract in England (the {{lang|fr|"Potts et Hunts"}} Chassepots delivered to the [[French Navy]]), in [[Belgium]] (Liege), and in [[Italy]] at Brescia (by Glisenti). The approximate number of Chassepot rifles available to the French Army in July 1870 was 1,037,555 units.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eq2Dnj4sDZIC&pg=PA87|title=Rifles of the World|first=John|last=Walter|date=2006|publisher=Krause|isbn=978-0-89689-241-5|page=87}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Additionally, state manufacturies could deliver 30,000 new rifles monthly. Gun manufacturers in [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]] and [[Austria]] also produced Chassepot rifles to support the French war effort. The [[Steyr Mannlicher|Josef und Franz Werndl & Co.]] in [[Steyr]], Austria delivered 12,000 Chassepot carbines and 100,000 parts to France in 1871.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schmids-zuendnadelseite.de/chassepot.html|title=Zuendnadelgewehr Chassepot|website=Schmids-zuendnadelseite.de|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref> Manufacturing of the Chassepot rifle ended in February 1875, four years after the end of the Franco-Prussian War, with approximately 700,000 more Chassepot rifles made between September 1871 and July 1874.<ref name="bibliotekacyfrowa.pl">{{cite web|url=http://www.bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/Content/66492/GSL_P_31148_IV_1873_043.pdf|date=1873|title=Bladstadt|website=Digital Library of the University of Wrocław|language=pl|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref>

== History ==
The Chassepot was named after its inventor, [[Antoine Alphonse Chassepot]] (1833–1905), who, from the mid-1850s onwards, had constructed various experimental forms of breech loaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alienor.org/collections-des-musees/fiche-objet-5465-mousqueton|title=mousqueton|website=Alienor.org|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alienor.org/publications/fusils/essai04.htm|title=CMPC Dossiers : De la bouche à la culasse|website=Alienor.org|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref> The first two models of the Chassepot still used percussion cap ignition. The third model, using a similar system to the Prussian [[Dreyse needle gun]], became the French service weapon on 30 August 1866. In the following year it made its first appearance at the [[Battle of Mentana]] on 3 November 1867, where it inflicted severe losses upon [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]'s troops. It was reported at the French Parliament that "''Les Chassepots ont fait merveille!''", ("The Chassepots have done wonderfully!") The heavy cylindrical lead bullets fired at high velocity by the Chassepot rifle inflicted wounds that were even worse than those of the [[Minié rifle]]. By 1868, the entire French active army had been re-armed with the Chassepot.

In the [[Franco-Prussian War]] (1870–1871), the Chassepot met its Prussian counterpart, the Dreyse needle-fire rifle. The Chassepot had several advantages over the Dreyse. It featured a rubber obturator on its bolt head to provide a more efficient gas-seal. Although it fired a smaller caliber (11&nbsp;mm vs. 15.4 for the Dreyse), the Chassepot ammunition had more gunpowder (5.68 grams vs 4.85 grams), resulting in higher muzzle velocity (436 meters per second, 33% over the Dreyse), a flatter trajectory and a longer range. Thus the sights on the Chassepot could be elevated up to 1,600 meters, while the maximum sight setting of the Dreyse was only 600 meters.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U4p8AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT368|title=From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms |first=Oyvind |last=Flatnes |year=2013 |publisher=Crowood |isbn=978-1-84797-594-2 |page=368}}</ref> The Chassepot had a weight of 4.1&nbsp;kg versus 4.57&nbsp;kg for the needle-fire rifle. It was also shorter (1310&nbsp;mm vs. 1424&nbsp;mm).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.schmids-zuendnadelseite.de/deutschfranz.html|title = Vergleich der Systeme im Krieg 1870/71}}</ref>

After the war, 20,000 captured Chassepot rifles were sold to the Shah of the Persian [[Qajar dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Pall Mall Review Vol.24|date=1880|publisher=J. Kellett|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLw_AQAAMAAJ&dq=tabatiere&pg=PA214}}</ref>
 
In 1872 the [[Empire of Brazil]] purchased 8631 Chassepots; after being faced with a possible war involving Argentine claims over Paraguay. The weapons, however, were never officially distributed to the Army, since the decision to buy the Comblain had already been made and because of issue with the cartridge's reliability. The weapons ended their career in deposit or were handed over to police forces and shooting clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ArmasBrasil - Chassepot |url=http://www.armasbrasil.com/SecXIX/declinio/ArmasFogo/chassepot.htm |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=www.armasbrasil.com |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419120702/http://www.armasbrasil.com/SecXIX/declinio/ArmasFogo/chassepot.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some of these weapons were possibly used by rebels during the [[War of Canudos]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barbieri |first=Aldo |date=December 1997 |title=O Apocalipse de Antonio ou Annus Irae- As armas da Guerra de Canudos |trans-title=Antonio's Apocalypse or Annus Irae- Weapons of the War of Canudos |magazine=Revista Magnum |language=Portuguese |issue=55 |pages=26–33}}</ref> they may have been captured from the Bahia police after the engagement at Maceté.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Benício |first=Manoel |url=https://www2.senado.leg.br/bdsf/bitstream/handle/id/574271/Rei_jaguncos.pdf |title=O rei dos jagunços |date=2013 |publisher=Senado Federal, Conselho Editorial |isbn=978-85-7018-438-2 |edition=[2nd ed.] |location=Brasilia |oclc=872368766}}</ref> Chassepots were used during the Federalist Revolution and by the tenentist rebels of the 1924 revolt in Rio Grande do Sul.<ref>{{Cite web |title=O EXÉRCITO REPUBLICANO |url=https://www.acadhistoria.com.br/livros/ExRepublicano.pdf}}</ref>

In June 1880, some 40 1866 Chassepots with a few bayonets were delivered to the port of Buenos Aires. Those Chassepots were of 11mm calibre and were possibly rechambered for the Gras cartridge (They were delivered together with Gras rifles in a shipment of 450 weapons).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unidades y armas durante el sitio de Buenos Aires de 1880 |url=http://www.legionitaliana.com.ar/FuerzasSitioBuenosAires1880.PDF}}</ref>  

Surplus Chassepot were exported to [[Qing dynasty|China]].{{sfn|Ball|2011|p=81}} Some of the warriors of the [[Ethiopian Empire]] were equipped with Chassepot rifles during the [[first Italo-Ethiopian War]] of 1896.<ref name="Adowa">{{cite book| title= Armies of the Adowa Campaign 1896: The Italian Disaster in Ethiopia|series=Men-at-Arms 471|first=Sean |last=McLachlan |date=20 September 2011|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|isbn=9781849084574| page=35}}</ref>

==Technology==

===Bolt mechanism===
[[File:Chassepot IMG 3562.jpg|thumb|left|Chassepot bolt mechanism]]
The breech was closed by a bolt similar to those of more modern rifles. Amongst the technical features of interest introduced in 1866 on the Chassepot rifle was the method of [[obturation]] of the bolt by a segmented rubber ring which expanded under gas pressure and thus sealed the breech when the shot was fired. This simple yet effective technology was successfully adapted to artillery in 1877 by Colonel [[Charles Ragon de Bange|de Bange]], who invented grease-impregnated asbestos pads to seal the breech of his new cannons (the De Bange system).

===Cartridge===
The Chassepot used a paper cartridge that many refer to as 'combustible', although in reality it was quite the opposite. It held an {{convert|11|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} round-headed cylindro-conoidal lead bullet that was wax paper patched. An inverted standard percussion cap was at the rear of the paper cartridge and hidden inside. It was fired by the Chassepot's needle (a sharply pointed firing pin) upon pressing the trigger. While the Chassepot's ballistic performance and firing rates were excellent for the time, burnt paper residues as well as black powder fouling accumulated in the chamber and bolt mechanism after continuous firing. The bolt's rubber obturator eroded in action but was easily replaced in the field by infantrymen. The older Dreyse needle gun and its cartridge had been designed to minimize those problems but to the detriment of its ballistic properties.

To correct this problem the ''Chassepot'' was replaced in 1874 by the [[Fusil Gras mle 1874|Gras]] rifle which used a [[Centerfire ammunition|centerfire]] drawn brass metallic cartridge. Otherwise, the Gras rifle was basically identical in outward appearance to the Chassepot rifle. Nearly all rifles of the older Chassepot model (Mle 1866) remaining in store were eventually converted to take the 11&nbsp;mm Gras metallic cartridge ammunition (''fusil Modèle'' 1866/74). About 665,327 Chassepot rifles had been captured by the German coalition that defeated France in 1871.<ref name="bibliotekacyfrowa.pl"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eq2Dnj4sDZIC&pg=PA88 |title=Rifles of the World |first=John |last=Walter |year=2006 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=978-0-89689-241-5 |page=88}}</ref> Large numbers of these captured Chassepot rifles were shortened and converted to [[11x60mm Mauser|11&nbsp;mm Mauser]] metallic cartridge. It served with cavalry units of the [[Kingdom of Saxony]] and of the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ball |first=R. |title=Mauser Military Rifles of the World |year=2011 |edition=5th |publisher=[[Gun Digest|Gun Digest Books]] |location=[[Iola, Wisconsin|Iola]] |isbn=978-1-4402-1544-5 |pages=138–139}}</ref> Other 11mm Mauser conversions were carried out by [[Kynoch]] in Birmingham between 1885-1889.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clarizia |first1=Vincenzo |title=Ancient Weapons of Oman. Volume 2: Firearms |date=2022 |publisher=Archaeopress Publishing Limited |isbn=9781803270333 |page=83 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ScqAEAAAQBAJ&dq=kynoch%20chassepot&pg=PA83}}</ref> In most but not all, the French [[Receiver (firearms)|receiver]] markings on these German-captured Chassepot rifles had been erased.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Chassepot IMG 3574.JPG|Chassepot paper [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]] and boxes.
File:Soldier-chassepot.jpg|French soldier with Chassepot rifle.
File:Chassepot-Gras cart.jpg|From left: [[.22 Long Rifle]];<br>11mm paper cartridge for Chassepot/Fusil modèle 1866;<br>11mm×59.5R metallic cartridge for [[:en:Fusil Gras mle 1874|Fusil Gras mle 1874]]
Image:Chassepot-p1000739.jpg|Close-up, with cartridge
File:Chassepot bayonet assembly.jpg|Bayonet assembly
File:Chassepot.jpg|1867 newspaper illustration including a cross-section
File:Chassepot gun model 1866 Mutzig 1869.jpg|Chassepot gun, model 1866, [[Mutzig]], 1869.
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Antique gun]]
* [[Service rifle]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Ford, Roger. ''The World's Great Rifles'' London: Brown Books, 1998. {{ISBN|1-897884-33-8}}.
* {{New International Encyclopedia|title=Chassepot}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book
  |last1=A-R-West  |first1=Guy
  |last2=A-R-West  |first2=Leonard
  |title=The Needle-Ignition System of the Modele 1866 'Chassepot'
  |publisher=Woodfield Publishing
  |year=2017
  |isbn=978-1-84683-187-4
  |ref={{SfnRef|A-R-West|2017}}
}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Chassepot Mle 1866}}
* [http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/FRENCH_ARMY.htm The French Army 1600–1900]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QtrHC4L_8A Forgotten Weapons – Chassepot Needle Rifle]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | title=French Army rifle|
 before= [[Tabatière rifle]]| years=1866–1874| after=[[Fusil Gras mle 1874|Fusil Gras Modèle 1874]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{French weapons of the 19th century}}

[[Category:Rifles of France]]
[[Category:Early rifles]]
[[Category:Franco-Prussian War]]
[[Category:Arms of the Franco-Prussian War]]
[[Category:Second French intervention in Mexico]]
[[Category:French Foreign Legion]]
[[Category:Single-shot bolt-action rifles]]
[[Category:Guns of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)]]