Original German Dreyse Zündnadel Model 1866 Needle Fire Saddle Ring Carbine with Stützen Stock - Serial 84

Original Item: Only One Available. These are really hard to find! In 1836 JOHANN NIKOLAUS VON DREYSE designed this breech loading cartridge system while the rest of the world were still using muzzleloaders. These were called Zündnadelgewehr, which translates roughly as "ignition needle rifle". These were adopted by the Prussian Military in 1841, and called the leichtes Perkussionsgewehr Modell 1841("light percussion rifle Model 1841"), with the name chosen to hide the revolutionary nature of the new weapon.

Its first notable service was in the May uprisings in Dresden in 1849. Taking a 15.4mm paper cartridge ignited by a needle projecting from the front of the bolt, the barrel on these is heavily rifled to engage the cartridge. The system was so revolutionary that it was observed that in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, a Prussian Infantryman could fire five rounds from a prone position in the time it took an Austrian Infantryman to discharge one round from a standing position.

The Zündnadel saw service up through the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, when the Prussians were quickly victorious despite the French Chassepot Needle fire Rifle introduced in 1866, which was considered a far superior weapon. It was this action that brought the German Empire together in 1871, and by this time the Needle Rife rifles were in use by many other German states. The Dreyse Needle Fire was obsoleted in 1871 with the introduction of Paul Mauser's M1871 bolt action rifle which took what we would think of as conventional brass cased ammunition (10.4mm).

This is a very nice example of what we believe is a Model 1866 Zündnadelkarabiner (Needle Fire Carbine), which we have unfortunately not been able to find much information on at all. The carbines are far more rare than the rifles, and there we have not been able to find many other examples at all. It also looks to have been arsenal reworked at some point, and the markings would normally be present on the left receiver, however it looks like that area was machined down to reduce the weight and give it a more streamlined profile. The only marking present on the carbine now is the number 84, stamped on the left side of the barrel and on the components of the bolt, as well as elsewhere. When it was reworked at looks to have been reblue, much of which is still retained.

The carbine has a lovely Stützen-style stock with a cheek piece on the left side, as well as a "trigger grip" style trigger guard. It shows wear from use, but no major damage, and is definitely set up in an interesting way, with a very long band spring for the brass nose cap on the bottom of the fore stock. It also has what looks like a lock "side plate" attached to the stock and then into a tapped hole in the left side of the receiver. This is fitted with a heavy saddle ring, and it's possible that it was adopted from some other gun. Definitely a very interesting example that looks fantastic, with some great potential for future research!

The bolt can still be removed from the rifle, though the trigger must be pulled back VERY far, as is correct. We checked the needle, and it still protrudes about from the front of the bolt face when moved forward, however we do not know if it is full length. The rifle cycles relatively well, with a crisp dry fire, and the firing pin holder can be retracted properly as well. We checked the bore, and it still shows strong 4 groove rifling, with a mostly bright finish. There is some past oxidation and fouling in the grooves, and it definitely does show some level of wear.

These are incredibly rare, and this is the first example we have had of this type. From looking around these are very seldom encountered. A rare late example of a revolutionary firing system, ready to display.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1866
Caliber: 15.4mm Dreyse
Cartridge Type: Needlefire Cartridge - Lead bullet in Paper Cartridge
Barrel Length: 18 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 36 1/2 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action Needle Fire
Feed System: Single Shot

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