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Rare Early 1832 French M. Demondion Patented Single Shot Breech Loading Percussion Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Rare Early 1832 French M. Demondion Patented Single Shot Breech Loading Percussion Rifle
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Rare Early 1832 French M. Demondion Patented Single Shot Breech Loading Percussion Rifle

This is a rare example of a very early Model 1832 single shot breech loading rifle as manufactured by M. Demondion, that uses the French J.A. Roberts patented paper cartridge. This cartridge eventually evolved into the patented European rimfire cartridge. The cartridge itself was all self-contained in that it held both the ball and the powder charge in a completely self-contained paper/cardboard type tube. At the rear of the cartridge protruded a small percussion tube that operated similar to a pinfire cartridge in that the firing sequence was initiated by the strike of the rifle hammer on the percussion tube, which lead to the firing of the cartridge. This all seems pretty simple/basic today, however, remember that this was "1832", at this time the U.S Army/War Department was still using the type III 1816 pattern flintlock musket. We had not developed the Model 1841 muskets and was prior to the Mexican/American revolution. We didn't even have any kind of self-contained cartridge at all in development, in fact this system was reviewed/evaluated by the U.S, Army at Harpers Ferry Arsenal in 1837 and obviously rejected. The significance of this rifle and cartridge is that in 1831 Abraham Moser was granted an English patent (6196) on using this cartridge with a centerfire cap base and later J.A. Roberts was granted a French patent (8061) in which he combined the two and developed the rimfire cartridge. The rifle itself is operated by lifting up on the upper tang to unlock or swing the breech open and exposing the rear of the barrel/chamber to load the cartridge. Then by closing/lowering the upper tang, it actually cocks the internal hammer, which then can strike the noted percussion firing tube on the rear of the cartridge. Pretty simple, but probably very effective. There are no maker marks, however the top of the rear section of the barrel has a small rectangular cartouche with "H a G ie" markings inside which was probably the barrel makers proof mark, with a circular "GB" firing proof directly below that. The top of the breechblock has the small "G" assemblers mark which is also found on the side of the upper tang/cocking lever. Additionally the same assemblers marks: "Star/B" proofs are found on the middle barrel band, the trigger guard and lower tang assembly. The lower tang and internal hammer are both numbered "1151" and the top of the barrel and lower rear tang are also all stamped with a small "S" sub-inspectors proof, indicating that all the parts are original and have been together for some time. The sights consist of a brass blade front sight attached to the front barrel band, almost identical to the Model 1841 Mississippi rifle with an unusual high profile double rabbit ear type rear sight mounted on top of the rear breechblock. The stock is a full length one-piece musket type stock with the typical French Military pattern buttstock with the wide flat buttplate. Both the left and right sides of the buttstock have a French Military type proofmark that looks like a Crown/Intertwined letters.

Manufucture: French
Model: 1832
BBL: 41 1/2 inch round
Stock: walnut
Guage: 68
Finish: bright armory polish
Grips:
Serial Number: 1511

Very fine with most of the original bright (in the white) type polish still remaining over all with brown patina on the balance of the exposed metal surfaces. The stock is all original and retains much of its original dark brown finish overall with minor handling marks and light pressure dents from years of use and handling. Certainly a very rare and very pivotal early French cartridge type rifle.