FIREARMS. FRANCE. Rare MANCEAUX-VIELLARD system percussion rifle, walnut frame, bronzed round rifled barrel then octagonal with thunder calibre 12 mm, breech opening by a lever placed on the top for the cartridges of the Manceaux-Vieillard system, frog with graduated mobile planchette, front lock engraved "F. MANCEAUX à PARIS", hallmarked "JM" in an oval, bronzed iron fittings, iron ramrod, brown leather shoulder strap, numerous hallmarks including that of the Paris proof house, with its sword-bayonet with bronzed triangular blade (wooden plates replaced later), SF. L: 125 cm, barrel: 85.5 cm, bayonet: 68.5 cm, blade: 56.8 cm. Minor lack of tanning on barrel. BE Produced for the civilian market around 1862-1863, this breech-loading rifle invented by François-Jules Manceaux in association with Eugène VIEILLARD features a loading system that would compete with that of Chassepot for the army.