| Gras M80 Model 1874 rifle Fusil Gras M80 Modèle 1874 |
|
|---|---|
 Fusil Gras M80 1874 |
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| Type | Bolt-action rifle |
| Place of origin |  France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1874 to 1945 |
| Used by | France, Chile |
| Wars | Boxer Rebellion, French colonial expeditions, War of the Pacific, Chilean Civil War, First World War, Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1874 |
| Manufacturer | Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.15 kg |
| Length | 1305mm |
| Barrel length | 820mm |
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| Caliber | 11x59mm [1] |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| Feed system | Single shot |
The Fusil Gras M80 Modèle 1874 was a French rifle of the 19th century. The Gras used by the French Army was an adaptation to metallic cartridge of the Chassepot breech-loading rifle by Basile Gras. This rifle was an 11 mm caliber and used cartridges that weighed 25 grams. It was a robust and hard-hitting weapon, but could only fire one shot after loading. It also had a triangular-shaped saber/bayonet. It was replaced by the Lebel rifle in 1886.
The metallic-cartridge Gras was manufactured in response to the development of the metallic cartridge designed by Colonel Boxer in 1866 (Boxer cartridge), and the British 1870 Martini-Henry rifle.[2] It was soon emulated by the Germans with the 1871 Mauser.[2]
The Greek Army adopted the Gras in 1877, and it was used in all conflicts up until the Second World War. It became the favourite weapon of guerrilla fighters, from the various revolts against the Ottoman Empire to the resistance against the Germans, acquiring legendary status. The name entered the language, and Grades (γκράδες) was a term colloquially applied to all rifles during the first half of the 20th century. It was mainly manufactured by MAS (an abbrevation of Manufacture d'Armes St. Etienne - one of several government-owned arms factories in France)
The Gras rifle was partly the inspiration for the development of the Japanese Murata rifle, Japan's first locally-made service rifle.
Notes
- ^ http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/11gras/index.html
- ^ a b The Tools of Empire by Daniel R. Headrick p.98 [1]
See also
External links
| Preceded by Chassepot Modèle 1866 |
French Army rifle 1874-1886 |
Succeeded by Lebel Modèle 1886 |
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