- Fusil Gras mle 1874
The Fusil Gras mle 1874 used by the
French Army was an adaptation to metallic cartridge of theChassepot breechloadingrifle by general (then captain)Basile Gras . This gun 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 at a time. It also had a triangular-shapedsaber /bayonet . It was replaced by theLebel rifle in 1886.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 ofguerrilla fighters, from the various revolts against theOttoman 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)Bibliography
* [http://hlebooks.com/gazette/index.htm Visual Index (1972 to 2007) of the "Gazette des Armes"] - Premier French firearms magazine (huge amount of data on vintage French firearms)
ee also
*
Berthier Mle 07-15
*Lebel Model 1886 rifle
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