Gras Model 66/74 gendarmerie rifle. The stock is secured to the barrel by a screw at the rear of the action and by two brass sleeves placed round the fore-end. The butt is only slightly dropped and is lacking its brass butt plate. The trigger guard is made of brass and two sling loops are fitted - one beneath the butt near the toe and the other to the rear brass sleeve. A cleaning rod (steel) fits beneath the barrel. It has a bolt operated lock, which is breech loading and single shot. The bolt head is in the form of a tapered lever and this is turned 90 degrees to open. The action cocks on opening. The barrel is rifled with four grooves and a right-hand twist. Fitted with a bayonet lug on the right side of the muzzle. Fixed blade foresight, tangent curve sight (defective) graduated in 20s up to 1,000 metres. On the side of the action 'MANUFACTURE D'ARMES Châtellerault Mle 1874' is inscribed. The serial number '94105' is inscribed on the barrel. There are a large number of stamped marks round the action and near the breech. This is a version of the Gras rifle which was developed for the French army from the 1866 model Chassepot rifle and may thus be regarded as the M1866/74. It is likely that it dates from after 1874.