Belgium, mid-19th century. - Lot 156

Belgium, mid-19th century. Rare PISDAULT-LAGREZE GEVELOT system infantry test rifle, made in Liège. Cal. 11 mm. Serial no. 100. All white metal parts stained with minor traces of oxidation in places. Round rifled barrel with rear sight, graduated rear sight and chassepot-type bayonet lug, numbered "100". Lagrèze & Pidault breech-loading system (patent filed February 25, 1867) and movable chamber operated by the trigger guard lever, allowing the hammer to be cocked as well. The tailstock is marked "INV° P. L. - N°100 - GEVELOT". Steel fittings. The fittings, barrel and breech are stamped "V" under the crown. The barrel is stamped "ELG". Walnut stock with long barrel and steel buttplate. Mechanism partly functional, lowering the under-cockpit lever retracts the mobile chamber but does not cock the hammer, needs to be reviewed. The inside of the barrel is clean with good scratches. 127 cm (barrel 75 cm) (Wear and tear, good condition). Notes : - Jules-Félix GEVELOT was a French industrialist (1826/1904) who owned a cartridge factory in Issy-les-Moulinaux. - Rifle designed by gunmakers Pidault - Laugier and Lagrèze, according to a patent registered in Belgium on February 25, 1867. - These rifles were presented to the permanent shooting commission at Vincennes in 1868, but were ultimately rejected, as the chassepot rifle had been adopted 2 years earlier.