.48 caliber, 33" round barrel, blued finish, walnut stock. Lock marked A Francotte / A Liege with Belgian proofs on breech and barrel, and a Francotte cartouche on the obverse buttstock. The rifle is essentially a Belgian-made variant of the English Pattern 1856 Enfield "Short Rifle" with a smaller, .48 caliber bore that is rifled with six narrow lands and grooves. The rifle has an ungraduated Enfield-style long-range rear sight, a winged, target-style front sight and a saber bayonet lug with a 3.125" long guide key. A small oval German silver plaque is installed on the butt, partially covering the Francotte cartouche, that readsIndenrigs / Ministeriet /1872 in script, indicating that the gun was owned by the Danish Ministry of the Interior circa 1872. It is not clear if the rifle was a sample, prototype or museum piece and further research may prove fruitful. Condition: Fine overall. Retains much of the original blued finish with the case hardened lock having a mottled pewter patina. Metal shows some scattered surface oxidation and lightly scattered pin-pricking. Mechanically functional with a fine, bright bore. Wood is crisp with scattered minor bumps, dings and mars. Third sling swivel in toe of stock may be a later addition.
.48 caliber, 33" round barrel, blued finish, walnut stock. Lock marked A Francotte / A Liege with Belgian proofs on breech and barrel, and a Francotte cartouche on the obverse buttstock. The rifle is essentially a Belgian-made variant of the English Pattern 1856 Enfield "Short Rifle" with a smaller, .48 caliber bore that is rifled with six narrow lands and grooves. The rifle has an ungraduated Enfield-style long-range rear sight, a winged, target-style front sight and a saber bayonet lug with a 3.125" long guide key. A small oval German silver plaque is installed on the butt, partially covering the Francotte cartouche, that readsIndenrigs / Ministeriet /1872 in script, indicating that the gun was owned by the Danish Ministry of the Interior circa 1872. It is not clear if the rifle was a sample, prototype or museum piece and further research may prove fruitful. Condition: Fine overall. Retains much of the original blued finish with the case hardened lock having a mottled pewter patina. Metal shows some scattered surface oxidation and lightly scattered pin-pricking. Mechanically functional with a fine, bright bore. Wood is crisp with scattered minor bumps, dings and mars. Third sling swivel in toe of stock may be a later addition.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
