France, 2nd Empire (1852-1870). - Lot 402

France, 2nd Empire (1852-1870). Rare Manceaux-Vieillard system breech-loading percussion carbine for combustible cartridges, patented in 1858, model for the civilian market, complete with its Manceaux model 1858 sword-bayonet with the same no., circa 1862/65. Cal. 12 mm. Serial no. 312. All metal parts in their original bronze finish, lightened in places. Rifled barrel with thunderbolt flanks, then round, slightly tapered to the muzzle. Front percussion lock signed, on two lines in cursive letters, "J. Manceaux à Paris" and stamped "JM" in a dotted oval. Rotating breech with folding lever lock. The thunderhead is hallmarked "EP" in an oval, corresponding to the hallmark of the Paris Proof House under the Second Empire, then "12". The left side is stamped "B" in an oval and "P" crowned in an oval, while the right side is stamped "JM" in an oval. The screw heads are stamped "G 52". Model walnut stock with barrel, stamped "137", not the same no., with minor traces of handling. Model steel ramrod present. Functional mechanism, inside barrel clean with good scratches. (Wear and minor accidents from use, very good condition). 125 cm (barrel 85.5 cm). Its Manceaux model 1858 sword-bayonet for the Manceaux-Vieillard system rifle, for the civilian market, circa 1862/65. Steel frame in its lightened bronze finish, pommel with small beak and T-shaped mounting groove without chamfer. Brown horn plates secured with two small steel rivets. Straight crossbar with ring, slightly flattened for aiming, and straight quillon ending in a bulge facing forward. It is stamped "312". Straight three-edged blade with recessed sides in its original black bronze finish. Model steel scabbard with lightened bronze finish and black leather tongue inserted between the bowl and the body of the scabbard. It comes with its specific black leather scabbard holder (wear and minor accidents, black leather tongue damaged, if not very good condition). 68.5 cm (Blade 57 cm x inside Ø 1.85 cm). Note: François-Jules MANCEAUX (1803-1873), Parisian gunsmith, entrepreneur of the Manufacture de Tulles (1840 - 1855), patented a barrel-scoring machine in 1854. In 1856/58, he and his fellow Parisian gunsmith Eugène Napoléon VIEILLARD filed a patent for a breech-loading system for cartridges with separate combustion and percussion. The Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault was commissioned to manufacture the system to compete with systems developed by Chassepot and Gastinne-Renette. A few Manceaux-Vieillard system rifles were tested in various army corps in 1863, but were not adopted. Nevertheless, a number of Manceaux-Vieillard system breech-loading rifles with combustible cartridges were produced for the civilian market. Weapon classified as category "D2" by decree no. 2023-557 of July 3, 2023, free to acquire and hold.