Armed with its Model 1866 Chassepot, one of the earliest bolt-action designs, the French military under Napoleon III was reckoned to be unbeatable.

"The 1866 model Chassepot rifle really marks the beginning of the shift from muzzleloading, external-hammer, shoulder arms to a real bolt-action rifle," American Rifleman contributor Kenneth L ...

More About M. Chassepot. Share full article. From The London Telegraph. Feb. 27, 1905; Credit... The New York Times Archives. See the article in its original context from February 27, 1905, Page 6 ...