Belgian Terssen 1868 Carbine 8mm Antique Breech Loader Trapdoor
$2,000.00
Up for auction is a Belgian Terssen 1868 Carbine chambered in some caliber that measures to 11MM. This rifle at first glance might look a lot like an 1873 trapdoor rifle from the US but this rifle actually predates the trapdoor by about 3 years. The rifle features a “turnkey” style release for the trap door and everything works just as fine as the day it was created. This was just like the trapdoor, a conversion for muskets to turn them into a breach loader. The stock features a strange cutout possibly for a different cheek weld. Overall in great condition and would make a great addition to any antique arms collection.
The history of the Terssen is totally connected with its cousin, the Albini-Braendlin. The Albini-Braendlin rifle was adopted by Belgium in 1867 but it appears that problems with its design or delays with delivery caused the adoption, as a temporary measure, of the Terssen. It was designed by a certain Colonel Terssen commandant of the Manufacture d’Armes de l’Etat (Arms Factory of the State), the Belgian government arms factory at Liège. This rifle was built both as a conversion of the French M1777 flintlock pattern design and as a conversion of the Belgian M1848 Thouvenin Carbine (M1848s being an improvement of the already rifled Delvigne-Poncharra M1841 Carabine de Chasseurs ), which had earlier received Belgian back-action locks. The M1848 Thouvenins were made with M1841-type stocks. ? When stocks of the old Thouvenins were exhausted, the Belgians built new M1868 Terssens, which are only slightly different from the M1848/68 in minor details; a buttplate like the Albini-Braendlin, a straighter trigger, breech block pivot points that are slightly different and a complete new stock in one piece (the stock of the M1848/68, using the original stock of the Thouvenin carbine and adding a new piece to extend the forestock section is in 2 pieces with the seam hidden below the lower barrel band, making it appear as though the stock had been “duffle bag” cut; but this 2-piece configuration is original). ? To add further interest, M1841s, from which the M1848/68 Terssen was built, had two types of stocks. The first type, at the beginning of the M1841 production, was made from unfinished stocks still available from the production of the M1777-like rifles which used a forward lock; the second type of stock is the “official” M1841 type stock for the M1841 back action lock. M1848s with both types of stocks were used to produce the M1848/68. The small manufacturers of Liège never threw anything away and, in pre-assembly-line days, interchangeability of parts was not critical. The Terssen was withdrawn from front line service once adequate numbers of Albinis were delivered. However like the Albinis, the left rear sight of some Terssen rifles appear to have been fitted with the M1880 “Halkin modification”; that is, volley sights were added by addition of a leaf extension to the rear sight slide with a corresponding “button” sight affixed to the right side of the center barrel band, thus they may have remained in service longer than is generally believed. ? In 1867-68 The Terssen was submitted for trials to the Italian committee responsible for developing conversions of Italian muzzle loaders to breech loaders, but it doesn’t appear that they were actually adopted or that any actually entered Italian service. However, an Albini-Braendlin conversion of Italian muzzleloaders, was adopted by the Italian navy.
THIS ITEM IS AS PICTURED WITH NO FURTHER ATTACHMENTS
Metal Condition:In great condition for its age with moderate signs of wear.
Stock/Grips Condition:In great condition for its age with moderate signs of wear.
Bore Condition:In good condition with sharp defined rifling.
Action:Functions as designed.
Curios & Relic Eligible:YES (Antique)
Serial Number: 1140
