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I am working on a book which will cover the Japanese use of imported weapons in the approximate time period 1850-1900. I hope that someone familiar with French weapons can help me understand what I am reading. One of the classic books on Japanese firearms history is the 1930s book "Militry Industries of Japan". The book mentions that Enfield rifles were converted to "Allumette" using machinery purchased in June of 1873. Unfortunately, the book does not discuss what an Allumette is. I am presuming it is a modification to a breech-loading system from the Enfields original percussion ignition system. Later in the book it mentions that the Allumettes were later converted to Sniders - again a breech-loading modification.
1886lebel mentioned to me that the the French word Allumette translates roughly to "match light" and that these rifles were related to the French Tabtiere rifle. Can someone please walk me through this Allumette and Tabtiere evolution? I know quite a bit about Japanese weapons, but nothing about French weapons and I really need some help here.
I beleive that a Tabtiere rifle has been reported with Japanese markings, but I do not have any photographs, much less photos of the elusive Allumette. Can any one on this forum help me with this? I am kind of lost. I have a lot of info on the Japanese use of U.S. and British weapons, but nothing on the use of French weapons, yet two different military missions were sent from France to Japan to asisst in the laters military deveolopment in the 1860s.
If any of you French weapons collectors have examples with Japanese markings, I would be happy to translate them for you.
Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Frank
1886lebel mentioned to me that the the French word Allumette translates roughly to "match light" and that these rifles were related to the French Tabtiere rifle. Can someone please walk me through this Allumette and Tabtiere evolution? I know quite a bit about Japanese weapons, but nothing about French weapons and I really need some help here.
I beleive that a Tabtiere rifle has been reported with Japanese markings, but I do not have any photographs, much less photos of the elusive Allumette. Can any one on this forum help me with this? I am kind of lost. I have a lot of info on the Japanese use of U.S. and British weapons, but nothing on the use of French weapons, yet two different military missions were sent from France to Japan to asisst in the laters military deveolopment in the 1860s.
If any of you French weapons collectors have examples with Japanese markings, I would be happy to translate them for you.
Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Frank