I shot one of these at the Range & brother let me tell you. It packs quite a recoil! But that’s what happens when you basically cut down a full length Battle Rifle into a Carbine.
For some reason. Newton’s Laws of Physics still apply!








 

For as long as I can remember, I have been searching for a solid solution for storing my gear in my vehicle in such a way that it is both secure and easily accessible. I have owned all manner of sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, and it seems that no matter the vehicle there was always an available storage space that was completely available, but not very safe, secure or even convenient. Luckily, DU-HA has come up with an affordable solution.
Over the years, I’ve purchased all kinds of tool boxes, bedcovers, and organizers. They all just seemed to be built for construction workers or soccer moms, but when I’d consider products that were made for the gun and outdoor enthusiasts, they were well beyond my price range. My only option was to cobble together these alternatives. One day, while flipping through the Cabela’s catalog, I saw the DU-HA storage unit. This innovative product was designed to rest underneath the rear seat of a pickup truck, holding guns and shooting gear. Best of all, I could pick a color to match the interior of my truck, and have it delivered to my door for under $200. I had spent much more than that on fancy toolboxes and containers that still didn’t meet my needs. So, I ordered my first DU-HA product, and I have been a customer ever since.

DU-HA: What’s in a Name?

During SHOT Show 2017, Dan Ouren, the brainchild behind DU-HA gave me the background of his company. He explained that in 2003, he was frustrated with trying to store his gear under the seat of his Chevy Silverado. Dan told me that he had asked one of his good friends, Dennis Tuel Jr. to help him to bring his idea to life. Dan was typically a marketing guy, and his skill set matched well with Dennis’s engineering background.
Fairly early in the process, it was decided that the best way to make the product was using polyethylene material and the rotational molding process. Drawings were completed, patents were applied for, and a cast aluminum mold was ordered. And yet they still didn’t have a name for the product.
They wanted to make sure that they gave it a name that would be catchy and memorable. They settled on DU-HA, which they thought of as a catchall word like whatchamacallit, doodad, doohickey or thingamajig. I must admit that DU-HA is one of those simple words that are easy for people to remember. I’ve had plenty of friends ask me about my under-seat organizer, and all I have to say is “Put DU-HA into a search engine and it will take you right to it.” According to Dan, the name was also somewhat of a reference to a hunting dog. I guess that’s fitting, as this product certainly lends itself well to hunting.

SPECS:

• Under/Behind the Seat Storage: $199
• Tote: $379
• Tote with Slide Unit: $459
• Humpstor: $299

Storage you can use

For storage to be usable, I think there are certain attributes it must have.

1. Secure; either hidden out of sight or completely lockable
2. Easy to install, easy to remove.
3. Works with almost every combination of guns and gear, without requiring the purchase of additional accessories
4. Takes up a minimum amount of space inside my vehicle, or in the bed of a truck.
5. Fast and easy accessibility, without a lot of climbing or lifting in uncomfortable positions.
6. Low Profile; it shouldn’t stand out at a casual glance
7. Weathertight; I want to be able to go through a car wash, blizzard, sandstorm or tornado without leakage.

Security is probably the first prerequisite on the list. If your guns and gear aren’t held securely, what’s the point? Modularity is also a key consideration, in my opinion. One day I may be hunting and have two shotguns with full-length barrels, and on my next outing I may have a shotgun with an 18-inch barrel along, with an AR-15 with an optic mounted on top.
I don’t want to have to go through a lot of change-over based on what type of gear I need to store that day. To me, convenience means being able to access my gear without spending a lot of time opening compartments and climbing in and out of the bed of the truck. Finally, I’m not looking for a long-term commitment to use the storage. It should be easy to install and easy to remove. This all sounds so simple, but every other solution I have come across has been expensive, and required lots of installation time. These products have also been, for all intents and purposes, semi-permanent.

DU-HA Under Seat Storage Units

These containers allow you to store your guns, ammunition, hunting gear, fishing gear, tackle, power tools, rain gear, tow ropes, tie-down straps, first aid kit, bungee straps, jack, chains, jumper cables, you name it; securely under or behind the back seat of your truck. Included with each unit is a 2-piece gun rack/organizer to safely store your guns.
The best part about the DU-HA under seat storage unit is that it reclaims space that is mostly wasted or underutilized. The under-seat/behind seat unit is installed with 2 nylon straps under or behind the rear seat of your pickup truck. When the rear seats are put in the down positions, the storage unit is almost invisible. This is due to it matching the interior color of your truck. I have never had anyone even notice the unit unless the seats were up. I have had lots of folks ask about it once they see how well it works.
Constructed from heavy-duty polyethylene, it is very durable and easy to install in just minutes.
DU-HA offers a locking attachment that will secure the seat in the down position with key access.
In my truck, I store a Remington 870 shotgun and an AR-15, extra ammunition for both, a first aid kit, and a kit with gear to help me get back home. All of this is stored without taking up any of the passenger area of the truck. No more instructions of “Oh, just scoot that rifle on over, Chief” when passengers are trying to climb in!
DU-HA has units for most trucks with back seats. If you have a subwoofer or an amp installed from the factory, they have units that will accommodate these sound systems.

DU-HA Tote

The DU-HA Tote holds your tools, rifles, shotguns, ammo, and other items in the rear cargo area of your vehicles and trailers. It can be mounted inside your SUV or in the bed of your pickup truck or trailer. It is weather tight and secure, and will hold four long guns with scopes securely in an upright position.
This tote is made for work during the week and the woods on the weekend. It is versatile, with easy to change configurations. With wheels and handles on both ends, it is removable and portable. You can bring it into work with you, and if you need the full use of your bed or storage space it takes seconds to remove. I recommend the adding the slide unit this secures your tote from sliding around while driving and allows you to lock it in place. The assembly and installation was finished in under an hour and only added two holes to the bed of my truck.
The lid is lockable, with three latches to keep the lid secure. The latches accept standard padlocks. There are recessed trays and cup holders molded into the lid, along with channels to allow water to drain off. Included inside the box are removable organizer/ divider/ gun racks, along with 2 removable trays that rest just below the lid.
The tote can be pulled on 2 wheels like a roller suitcase, with handles on either end. Using the included strap, you can pull the tote on all four wheels. If you have a friend with you, the tote is also easy to carry between you with the study end handles. I have one of these units in the bed of my truck, but I think I could easily fit and utilize three of them with no problems.

DU-HA Humpstor

The Humpstor takes its name from where it rides: in the bed of the truck, over the wheel well. This all-in-one storage unit gives you extra dry, secure storage in the bed of your truck without taking up valuable bed floor space.
The Humpstor installs easily with brackets that clamp to the lip of the bed rail. The brackets can be adjusted up or down according to your height preference. This allows you to use the Humpstor with a bed cover.
All the hardware to mount the Humpstor is included, along with removable internal gun rack mounts to hold 2 long guns without scopes, securely.
The Humpstor has a sealed lid to keep out moisture and dust. The lid is lockable with 3 latches that take standard padlocks. The lid has recessed trays and cup holders molded into it, along with channels to allow water to drain off.

A solution for Your Storage

These products are all made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. Heck, DU-HA is so sure you will like these that they offer a 30-day money back guarantee as well. Their cost is reasonable compared to other storage solutions. I got all three of these for what another company wanted for just one in bed storage unit.
For more information about DU-HA systems, click here.

Now over the years. I am sure that we all have heard the joke about the Sign at a Gun shop or Gun Show. “French Army Rifles for sale, Only fired and dropped once!”

Sadly for the French Army recent in the recent past 80 years or so. This has a grain of truth to it. Add to this fact also. That the French who generally give their Snuffies. Some really behind the times guns.
But when it comes to this gun. The Nation had a winner!
In that it was better than their Main Enemies Rifle the German Needle Gun.

As that it had a better bolt action, more powder behind the smaller bullet, had a flatter trajectory with a longer range.
It is just a pity and the French Generals were not as good. As that the Franco Prussian War was to show. Because the Germans just kicked some serious butt. But that is another story for another day.
Here is some more information about this little know Rifle! Thanks for everything !                                                             Grumpy

https://youtu.be/-QtrHC4L_8A

https://youtu.be/IaQarXh2vZU

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video Chassepot Needle Rifle at RIA

Chassepot Needle Rifle at RIA

Preview YouTube video Needle Gun MLE 1866 Chassepot Shooting

Needle Gun MLE 1866 Chassepot Shooting

Chassepot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chassepot
Chassepot rifle with bayonet
Type	Needle gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1867–1874
Used by	France Monaco Qajar Dynasty Tokugawa shogunate Greece
Wars	French colonial conflicts, Franco-Prussian War, other conflicts
Production history
Designer	Antoine Alphonse Chassepot
Designed	1866
No. built	~2,000,000
Specifications
Weight	4.635 kilograms (10 lb 3.5 oz)
Length	1.31 m (without bayonet) 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) (with bayonet)
Barrel length	795 mm
Cartridge	Lead bullet 25 g (386 grains) in paper cartridge charge 5.6g (86.4 grains) black powder
Caliber	11 mm (.433 inches)
Action	Bolt action
Rate of fire	8-15 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	410 m/s (1345 ft/s)[1]
Effective firing range	1,200 m (1,300 yd)
Feed system	Single-shot
Sights	Ladder

The Chassepot, officially known as Fusil modèle 1866, was a bolt action military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the French forces in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/1871. It replaced an assortment of Minié muzzleloading rifles many of which were converted in 1867 to breech loading (the Tabatière rifles). A great improvement to existing military rifles in 1866, the Chassepot marked the commencement of the era of modern bolt action, breech-loading, military rifles. Beginning in 1874, the rifle was easily converted to fire metallic cartridges (under the name of Gras rifle), a step which would have been impossible to achieve with the Dreyse needle rifle.^[2]
It was manufactured by MAS (Manufacture d’armes de Saint-Étienne), Manufacture d’Armes de Châtellerault (MAC), Manufacture d’Armes de Tulle (MAT) and, until 1870, in the Manufacture d’Armes de Mutzig in the former Château des Rohan. Many were also manufactured under contract in England (the “Potts et Hunts” Chassepots delivered to the French Navy), in Belgium (Liege), and in Italy at Brescia (by “Glisenti”). The approximate number of Chassepot rifles available to the French Army in July 1870 was 1,037,555 units.^[3] Additionally, State manufactories could deliver 30.000 new rifles monthly. Gun manufacturers in England and Austria also produced Chassepot-rifles to support the French war effort. The Steyr armory in Austria delivered 12.000 Chassepot carbines and 100.000 parts to France in 1871.^[4] Manufacturing of the Chassepot rifle ended in February 1875, four years after the end of the Franco-Prussian War, with approximately 700.000 more Chassepot rifles made between September 1871 and July 1874.^[5]

Contents

 [hide] 

• 1History
• 2Technology
  • 2.1Bolt mechanism
  • 2.2Cartridge
• 3Gallery
• 4See also
• 5Notes
• 6References
• 7External links

History[edit]

The Chassepot was named after its inventor, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot (1833–1905), who, from the mid-1850’s onwards, had constructed various experimental forms of breechloaders.^[6][7] The first two models of the Chassepot still used percussion cap ignition. The third model, using a similar system as the prussian Dreyse needle gun, became the French service weapon in 1866. In the following year it made its first appearance on the battlefield at Mentana on 3 November 1867, where it inflicted severe losses upon Giuseppe Garibaldi‘s troops. It was reported at the French Parliament that “Les Chassepots ont fait merveille!“, or loosely translated: “The Chassepots have done wonderfully!” The heavy cylindrical lead bullets fired at high velocity by the Chassepot rifle inflicted wounds that were even worse than those of the earlier Minié rifle.
In the Franco-Prussian War (1870/1871), the Chassepot met its Prussian counterpart, the Dreyse needle-fire rifle. The Chassepot had several advantages over the Dreyse. It featured a rubber obturator on its bolt head to provide a more efficient gas-seal. Although it fired a smaller caliber (11 mm vs. 15.4 for the Dreyse), the Chassepot ammunition had more gunpowder (5,68 grams vs 4,85 grams), resulting in higher muzzle velocity (436 meters per second, 33% over the Dreyse), a flatter trajectory and a longer range. Thus the sights on the Chassepot could be elevated up to 1600 meters, while the maximum sight setting of the Dreyse was only 600 meters.^[8] The Chassepots were responsible for most of the Prussian and other German casualties during the conflict. After the war, 20,000 captured Chassepot rifles were sold to the Shah of the Qajar Dynasty.

Technology[edit]

Bolt mechanism[edit]

Chassepot bolt mechanism

The breech was closed by a bolt similar to those of more modern rifles to follow. Amongst the technical features of interest introduced in 1866 on the Chassepot rifle was the method of obturation of the bolt by a segmented rubber ring which expanded under gas pressure and thus sealed the breech when the shot was fired. This simple yet effective technology was successfully adapted to artillery in 1877 by Colonel de Bange, who invented grease-impregnated asbestos pads to seal the breech of his new cannons (the De Bange system).

Cartridge[edit]

The Chassepot used a paper cartridge, that many refer to as being ‘combustible’, whereas in reality it was quite the opposite. It held an 11mm (.43 inch) round-headed cylindro-conoidal lead bullet that was wax paper patched. An inverted standard percussion cap was at the rear of the paper cartridge and hidden inside. It was fired by the Chassepot’s needle (a sharply pointed firing pin) upon pressing the trigger.
While the Chassepot’s ballistic performance and firing rates were excellent for the time, burnt paper residues as well as black powder fouling accumulated in the chamber and bolt mechanism after continuous firing. Also, the bolt’s rubber obturator eroded in action, although it was easily replaced in the field by infantrymen. The older Dreyse needle gun and its cartridge had been deliberately constructed in a way to minimize those problems but to the detriment of its ballistic properties.
In order to correct this problem the Chassepot was replaced in 1874 by the Gras rifle which used a centerfire drawn brass metallic cartridge. Otherwise, the Gras rifle was basically identical in outward appearance to the Chassepot rifle. Nearly all rifles of the older Chassepot model (Mle 1866) remaining in store were eventually converted to take the 11mm Gras metallic cartridge ammunition (fusil Modèle 1866/74). About 665.327^[9][10] Chassepot rifles had been captured by the German coalition that defeated France in 1871. Large numbers of these captured Chassepot rifles were converted to 11 mm Mauser metallic cartridge and shortened to carbine size in order to serve with German cavalry and artillery until the early 1880s. Others were disposed of “as is” with British surplus dealers. In most but not all cases, the French receiver markings on these German-captured Chassepot rifles had been erased.

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Chassepot paper cartridge and boxes.
• 

  French soldier with Chassepot rifle.
• 

  From left: .22 Long Rifle;
  11mm paper cartridge for Chassepot/Fusil modèle 1866;
  11mm×59.5R metallic cartridge for Fusil Gras mle 1874
• 

  Close-up, with cartridge
• 

  Bayonet assembly
• 

  1867 newspaper illustration including a cross-section
• 

  Chassepot gun, model 1866, Mutzig, 1869.

See also[edit]

• Antique gun

Notes[edit]

1. Jump up^ Ford, p. 23
2. Jump up^ New International Encyclopedia
3. Jump up^ https://books.google.de/books?id=Eq2Dnj4sDZIC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=chassepot+1870+122.000&source=bl&ots=scuEieRHzM&sig=tntrN7-Pm1yBjO7w1kRytuFSJiw&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMp-T-m8rSAhVFjSwKHaufDtwQ6AEIODAH#v=onepage&q=chassepot%201870%20122.000&f=false
4. Jump up^ http://www.schmids-zuendnadelseite.de/chassepot.html
5. Jump up^ http://www.bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/Content/66492/GSL_P_31148_IV_1873_043.pdf
6. Jump up^ http://www.alienor.org/collections-des-musees/fiche-objet-5465-mousqueton
7. Jump up^ http://www.alienor.org/publications/fusils/essai04.htm
8. Jump up^ https://books.google.de/books?id=U4p8AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT368&lpg=PT368&dq=chassepot+rubber+obturator+bolt+head&source=bl&ots=uvUmA0npMh&sig=JX-AnDRg-BrhVosvBIsHKf99k8k&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjtgOiLwNnSAhXFKiwKHdW0CzIQ6AEIQTAH#v=onepage&q=chassepot&f=false
9. Jump up^ http://www.bibliotekacyfrowa.pl/Content/66492/GSL_P_31148_IV_1873_043.pdf
10. Jump up^ https://books.google.de/books?id=Eq2Dnj4sDZIC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=chassepot+665327&source=bl&ots=scuEieQAxQ&sig=GOe_gXmdau1A_115PahIzcaSbII&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJobPMlcrSAhXJ1ywKHRmWAjQQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=chassepot%20665327&f=false

References[edit]

• Ford, Roger. The World’s Great Rifles London: Brown Books, 1998. ISBN 1-897884-33-8.
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). “^{article name needed}“. New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chassepot Mle 1866.

• The French Army 1600-1900
• Forgotten Weapons – Chassepot Needle Rifle

Preceded by Tabatière rifle

French Army rifle 1866–1874

Succeeded by Fusil Gras Modèle 1874

[hide] v t e  French weapons of the 19th century
Small arms	Delvigne rifle (1826) Thouvenin Carabine à tige (1846) Lefaucheux M1858 revolver Minié rifle (1849) Tabatière rifle (1864) Chassepot rifle (1866) Gras rifle (1874) Lebel rifle (1886) Modèle 1892 revolver
Machine guns	Reffye mitrailleuse (1866) Hotchkiss “Canon-Revolver” (1872) Mitrailleuse Gatling modèle APX 1895 (1895) Mle 1897 Hotchkiss Machine gun (1897)
Cannons	Year XI system (1803) Paixhans gun (1823) Valée system (1828) Canon obusier de 12 (1853) La Hitte system (1858) Reffye 85 mm (1870) Reffye 75 mm (1873) Lahitolle 95 mm (1873) de Bange 80 mm (1877) de Bange 90 mm (1877) Canet 320 mm (1880) Canon de 75 (1897)
Warships	Steam battleship Napoléon (1850) Ironclad floating battery Lave (1854) Ironclad Gloire (1858) Mechanical powered submarine Plongeur (1863) Steel battleship Redoutable (1876) Armoured cruiser Dupuy de Lôme (1890) Electrical submarine Gymnote (1888)
Ammunition	Lepage fulminate (1807-10) Pauly-Prélat integrated cartridge (1808) Prélat percussion cap (1818) Lefaucheux cartridge (1836) Tamisier ball (1841) Minié ball (1847) 8 mm Lebel smokeless powder cartridge (1886)
Systems	Lepage percussion system (1807) Marié-Davy naval periscope (1854) De Bange breech obturator (1872) Du Temple high-circulation steam engine (1876) Krebs naval electric gyrocompass (1880) Smokeless powder Poudre B (1886)
Operational usage	Napoleonic Wars French Intervention in Spain French conquest of Algeria Crimean War Second Italian War of Independence French Intervention in Mexico French weapons in the American Civil War Franco-Prussian War Tonkin Campaign Sino-French War

Categories:

• Rifles of France
• Early rifles
• Franco-Prussian War
• French intervention in Mexico
• French Foreign Legion
• Single-shot bolt-action rifles

Another really fun gun to shoot!