Historical Breechloading

Smallarms Association

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Blich-Scheel-Gregerson Capping Breechloading Military Rifle

Calibre:

 ·66" /  16·8mm
Barrel length: 36½"
Serial no.: 1242
Date: 1851

The world’s first general issue breechloading rifle was introduced in 1842. The prototype rifles were made at Kongsberg, and were the result of the combined efforts of Colonel Jens Christian Blich, Captain Frederik Willhelm Scheel of the Norwegian Artillery, and Kongsberg’s factory gunsmith Niels Gregersen.

The under hammer action is first cocked, and the breech opened by rotating the locking lever which is attached to the right hand side of the receiver. This cams the chamber out of engagement with the barrel and tips-up the forward end to enable the chamber to be loaded.

Twelve thousand were made for the Norwegian Army although many more were issued to the civilian Rifle Associations.

Original batch made in Liege as Model 1842. Fired a cylindro-canoidal bullet of 16·8mm from 1848; reduced to 11·77mm in 1860.

© H.B.S.A. 2004-6