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ZULU SHOTGUN
Guns International #: 100587617 Seller's Inventory #: 15252
Category: Antique Shotguns - Cartridge - Antique Shotguns - Percussion
Seller's Information
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Seller: SporterHeadQuarter
Member Since: 8/1/15
First Name: Chris
State: Michigan
Zip: 48323
Country: United States
Phone: (248) 342-9751
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
No disassembly, No Shooting Must Contact within 72 hrs of delivery
Payment Types Accepted: Postal MO or Check, cashiers check. I don't accept Ccards
Description:
ZULU SHOTGUN : Don't ya just love a gun with a story?
French 1867 "Tabatiere" rifle converted to a shotgun. This was originally a French Mle.1857 percussion rifle, which was later converted to M.1867 breech loading rifle, and finally converted to the smoothbore shotgun configuration. The gun features a modified Snider hinged block action. Different patterns of the Tabatiere ("snuffbox") breech loading rifles and carbines were manufactured for the French infantry, cavalry, artillery, dragoons, chasseurs, gendarmerie and navy. Shortly after the Franco-Prussian war, the French military decided that these guns were obsolete. The Tabatiere rifles and carbines were sold as surplus. Consequently, they were converted to inexpensive commercial arms, with their stocks shortened, and their barrels bored smooth for shot shells. These cut down, smooth bored guns were sold all over the world and are known today on the collector market as "Zulu Shotguns".
This particular “Zulu” shotgun #3306 was manufactured at the French arsenals of Mutzig, as indicated by the usual inscription on the Side plate," Mre. Imp ale de Mutzig,” Made at the Imperial Arsenal of Mutzig”.
It was converted to a "Zulu shotgun" configuration in Belgium, as indicated by Liege proof marks on the barrel. I believe this Zulu carries the original walnut stock that was shortened during the first conversion, due to the evidence of a ram rod hole in the forend, and, the right side of the butt stock displays a "Holy Water Cross" plug still intact (rare to still be there). It also has the original steel butt plate and trigger guard. The top metal of the shotgun, displays French and Belgian arsenal markings and numbers. Some occasional light patina is still showing on the metal, but overall looks as though someone may have tried to “blue” the barrel at one time. The stock is solid with handling marks and dings throughout as one would expect from a surplus military conversion arm.
The wood still sports an old finish that is intact, but I won’t venture to call it original, but is nice and even with an aged patina. There is a thin crack in wood at the forend.
All the internal parts of the shotguns trigger and action are in working condition, but the breech has a broken closing spring, and the hammer has a small chip out of the cup. The hammer screw may be a replacement, but it matches the “lock” screw in age style and patina. The barrel is missing the bead. The bore is filthy! But most all of the screws look untouched by “screw” drivers
This gun is indeed a “relic” It has sat in the closet for most of the 60 or so years that Dr. J. C (my friend) has owned it (maybe more) His father was the purchaser.
With this gun I've included a piece of “historical” provenance that the owners father who purchased this gun on Labor Day 1963 created. A shop keeper had given a rough description of the Tabatiere “Zulu” gun, to the father of the man who owns the gun now and, was quite accurate in his description. My friend’s father wrote it down and transcribed it using a “type writer” This scroll has been rolled up and put in the barrel since Thursday September 19th 1963 it reads
Thursday-September 19, 1963
"This shotgun was originally a muzzle loader, made in France in 1857, and issued to the French Army. It was converted to its present form for the purpose of trading with the “Zulu” tribe of French Africa, for ivory and precious stones. It is a 12 guage bore and 6 inches has been cut from its original length as a muzzle loader. A close observation will disclose a small hole in the stock. This was and still is made into all French firearms for the purpose of a papal blessing before they were issued to the armies. The holy water was placed here and a small plug placed over it. The gun was purchased in Talbotville, Ontario Labor day-1963 by K.P. Clarke, Berkley Michigan.”
Where are you going to find an intact all original 150+ yr old gun for $600 bucks????
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Tabatiere
Model: 1857 Zulu shotgun conversion
Serial Number: 3306
Condition: fair
Metal Condition: fair
Wood Condition: fair
Bore Condition: fair
Barrels: single
Action: Modified Snyder "snuffbox
Triggers: 1
Gauge Info: 12ga
Stock: straight grip
Butt Pad: metal
LOP: 12 1/2
Rib: none
Sights: none
Manufacture Date: 1857
Item Location: michigan