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Dutch Beaumont-Vitali 1871/88

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:44 pm
by Dutch Mosin
Here's one of my favorites.

I bought this one a couple of months ago from a good friend in the US.

It’s a Dutch Beaumont Vitali 1871/88 manufactured in 1877 by P. Stevens in Maastricht.

The calibre is .43 Beaumont or 11.35 x 52R

Around 1888 about 60.000 single shot Beaumont rifles were fitted with the four round Vitali box magazine.

Costs per rifle were 8.10 Dutch Guilders.

That would be € 3.60 now or about $5.00 USD.

Like I wrote before, this particular Beaumont is in fantastic condition.

I’ve got some range time tomorrow and will meet some club members that shoot the Beaumont too.

One of them had some cases I could buy.

I hope I can take this rifle to the range very soon.

Besides the cases I will need some bullets.

Got a source for that too.

Here are some pictures I made today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1526.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1528.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1529.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1531.jpg[/pic]

Manufactured by P. Stevens, Maastricht, Holland

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1533.jpg[/pic]

This is the view of the left side of the Beaumont's rear sight.
The range marks on the left side shown above are "right side up" as you would expect.
But on the RIGHT side, the range marks are at 1/2 step ranges marked "upside-down"
so that if you are right handed you can set the range simply by rolling the rifle over in your hands seeing the range marks clearly!!.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1545.jpg[/pic]

Right side of the rear sight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1534.jpg[/pic]

Rear barrel band

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1536.jpg[/pic]

Front sight

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1537.jpg[/pic]

Top number is the year of conversion from single shot to Beaumont-Vitali.
The second number should be a number that can be found elsewhere on the rifle, like a serial number.....but I can only find the production number (H976).
I have read somewhere that some of these rifles received no serial number or maybe someone just switched the butt plate.
I guess I'll never know.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1542.jpg[/pic]

Fantastic cartouche of a crowned W referring to King Willem III
(1849-1890) Maastricht above and date 1877 at sides


Some more pictures of Dutch rifle history from 1871 until 1940.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1547.jpg[/pic]

Father and son.
The Dutch Beaumont next to the Dutch Steyr-Mannlicher M95.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1549.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1551.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... G_1555.jpg[/pic]

This rifle is a dream come true for me.

I had to wait many years to find one that looked as good as this one and was affordable too.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:01 pm
by dhtaxi
Lovely you are a lucky man.

Worth the wait I think.

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:09 pm
by Dutch Mosin
Worth the wait I think.
Oh yes.

It was well worth the wait.

I'm waiting for some brass and .457 bullets to arrive so I can take this beauty to the range.

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:17 pm
by DuncaninFrance
Congratulations on a great looking piece Martin. It's fantastic when a significant part of history is in your hands I think.

Enjoy the moment my friend :D

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:46 pm
by Karl/Pa.
Interesting. Not much like the Swiss Vetterli except for the wood and bands. Is it centerfire?

Thanks.

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:46 am
by Aughnanure
Lovely Martin. Colour me the usual green :!:

The earliest mil-surp that I have is a 'Krapochek' by Steyr made in 1886.

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:38 pm
by Dutch Mosin
Yes, it is center fire alright.

Check this link:

http://www.militaryrifles.com/Holland/BeaumontBolt.htm

@ Aughnanure
The earliest mil-surp that I have is a 'Krapochek' by Steyr made in 1886.


These are very popular over here.

They can be bought relatively cheap in Germany.

You can buy a very nice one for € 150 to € 200 (that's about $200 to $290 USD)

Met vriendelijke groet,

Martin

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:37 pm
by Brass Rat
The most recent Shotgun News has a feature article on them.

Really interesting rifle, especially the main spring being housed in the bolt handle.