M1870 Belgian Comblain

The M1870 Belgian Comblain was a falling-block rifle invented by Hubert-Joseph Comblain of Liège, Belgium and produced in several variants known as the Belgian, Brazilian or Chilean Comblain.

M1870 Belgian Comblain
Chilean soldier during the War of the Pacific and his Comblain[1]
TypeService rifle
Place of originBelgium
Service history
Used byBelgian, Brazilian and Chilean armies
Wars Princesa Revolt[2]
Production history
DesignerHubert-Joseph Comblain
Specifications
Mass4.3 kg (without bayonet)
Length130 cm (without bayonet)
Cartridge11×50mm R Comblain, 11x54mm (1889 Brazilian contract)[6] 7x57 mm Mauser (Rio de Janeiro Police Carbine)[7]
Cartridge weight40 gr
Caliber11mm
ActionFalling-block
Rate of fire10 shots/min
Effective firing range300 m
Maximum firing range1300 m
SightsIron

W.W Greener wrote in Modern breechloaders: sporting and military in 1871:[8]

This rifle is called No.2, to distinguish it from the first Comblain, which is a modification of the Snider principle. The Comblain no 2 has the vertical sliding block and guard lever of the Sharp rifle; but the arrangement for exploding the cartridge is different.
The mechanism of the lock is fixed in the breech block, which consists of the ordinary main-spring acting upon a tumbler by a swivel. The tumbler and striker are made in one piece; the scear and trigger are also in one piece . By depressing the lever the breech block is brought down, the cartridge-case extracted and the rifle is cocked. A fresh cartridge being inserted, and the lever returned, the rifle is ready for firing.

The hinge screw can be removed without the aid of a turnscrew, which arrangement allows the breech block and lock to be taken out for the purpose of cleaning.

The breech arrangement is strong and simple. It is used by the Belgian volunteers, and has been severely tested both at Liege and Wimbledon.

Comblain Breech block
Comblain with his gun

Users
  •  Belgium: M1882 Belgian Comblain
  •  Bolivia:Given by Peru during the War of the Pacific [9]
  •  Brazil: M1873 Brazilian Comblain and Brazilian Comblain Carbine Model 92[2]
  •  Chile: M1874 Chilean Comblain
  •  Peru[9]

References
  1. Introducción a la industria de armamentos en los Países Bajos en el siglo 19
  2. "ArmasBrasil - Carabina Comblain".
  3. VILLELA Jr, M E C. CANUDOS: memórias de um combatente. 2 ed. Rio de Janeiro: EdUERJ, 1997. p. 107.
  4. A Noite – RJ, nº 793 – terça-feria – 27/01/1914, p. 03.
  5. "O EXÉRCITO REPUBLICANO" (PDF).
  6. "ArmasBrasil - Carabina Comblain Modelo 5".
  7. "ArmasBrasil - Carabina Comblain da Policia do RJ".
  8. Modern breechloaders: sporting and military (page 214)
  9. Esposito, Gabriele (2016). Armies of the War of the Pacific 1879-83. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781472814067.


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