Thought some of the clan might enjoy seeing some images of or our most recent needle gun to the pile. This example is a M1862 Infantry Rifle with the Beck’s bolt and rear sight modification. We were very fortunate to purchase this example and was courtesy of a friend’s referral.
It is an all-matching weapon save for the bolt, serial number 4954, with those numbers, or simply 54, appearing on nearly every metal component of the weapon including the screw heads. The barrel retains nearly all of its original brown finish, the receiver and bolt are finished in the white. Very pleasing, even golden patina to the brass barrel bands and trigger guard. Very clear unit markings on the butt tang, J.R.67.3.204, (4th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment Nr.67) Spandau Arsenal, year of manufacture 1868.
The stock retains its original arsenal finish with very clear proof marks and is marked LA (Langer Anschlag) which indicates the longer variety of stock length.
All in all, this is a very sound example of a 144 year old Infantry rifle in spite of its miss-matched bolt (more on that later).
The downside, and a big one, is that the weapon likely never saw combat service during the 1870-71 war which perhaps explains its well preserved present condition.
In the excellent collectors reference “The German Rifle” by John Walter (Arms & Armor Press 1979), he states that at the outbreak of war around 435,000 M1862 rifles were in army inventory compared to 450,000 of the 1841 model. Only the Prussian Garde infantry regiments, regiments numbered 1-32 and detachments of units from Baden, Hesse and Saxony were issued the new model rifles. The remaining regiments, including the bulk of the Landwehr, carried the 1841.
I mentioned previously the Beck’s modification to the bolt and rear sight. This was an attempt by the Prussian government to enact a short-term fix to the problem of the excellent service range of the French Chassepot rifle as compared to the much shorter range of the Dreyse needle gun. A new bolt head was installed on the otherwise unaltered gas chamber were it was held in place by a large screw (see photos), in addition, a new rear sight was installed. A leather washer was placed between the bolt head and bolt body, when the weapon was fired the gas pressure forced the bolt head back and forced the washer against the bolt chamber walls, increasing the gas seal for greater bullet velocity.
This modification process began in March of 1870 and continued very slowly, by the time of the outbreak of war in July, only three infantry regiments had been issued with Beck’s converted rifles. I like to think that during this modification process, when bolts were being torn-down and refitted, the miss-match for our example and others occurred.
The last photo is a period CDV image of a magnificently bearded Baden soldier armed with an 1862 Modell Zundnadelgewher. The lack of a cheek rest on the rifle stock (standard with the 1841 model) is a quick point for telling the difference between the two models.
Cheers..
Larry
It is an all-matching weapon save for the bolt, serial number 4954, with those numbers, or simply 54, appearing on nearly every metal component of the weapon including the screw heads. The barrel retains nearly all of its original brown finish, the receiver and bolt are finished in the white. Very pleasing, even golden patina to the brass barrel bands and trigger guard. Very clear unit markings on the butt tang, J.R.67.3.204, (4th Magdeburg Infantry Regiment Nr.67) Spandau Arsenal, year of manufacture 1868.
The stock retains its original arsenal finish with very clear proof marks and is marked LA (Langer Anschlag) which indicates the longer variety of stock length.
All in all, this is a very sound example of a 144 year old Infantry rifle in spite of its miss-matched bolt (more on that later).
The downside, and a big one, is that the weapon likely never saw combat service during the 1870-71 war which perhaps explains its well preserved present condition.
In the excellent collectors reference “The German Rifle” by John Walter (Arms & Armor Press 1979), he states that at the outbreak of war around 435,000 M1862 rifles were in army inventory compared to 450,000 of the 1841 model. Only the Prussian Garde infantry regiments, regiments numbered 1-32 and detachments of units from Baden, Hesse and Saxony were issued the new model rifles. The remaining regiments, including the bulk of the Landwehr, carried the 1841.
I mentioned previously the Beck’s modification to the bolt and rear sight. This was an attempt by the Prussian government to enact a short-term fix to the problem of the excellent service range of the French Chassepot rifle as compared to the much shorter range of the Dreyse needle gun. A new bolt head was installed on the otherwise unaltered gas chamber were it was held in place by a large screw (see photos), in addition, a new rear sight was installed. A leather washer was placed between the bolt head and bolt body, when the weapon was fired the gas pressure forced the bolt head back and forced the washer against the bolt chamber walls, increasing the gas seal for greater bullet velocity.
This modification process began in March of 1870 and continued very slowly, by the time of the outbreak of war in July, only three infantry regiments had been issued with Beck’s converted rifles. I like to think that during this modification process, when bolts were being torn-down and refitted, the miss-match for our example and others occurred.
The last photo is a period CDV image of a magnificently bearded Baden soldier armed with an 1862 Modell Zundnadelgewher. The lack of a cheek rest on the rifle stock (standard with the 1841 model) is a quick point for telling the difference between the two models.
Cheers..
Larry
