Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very unusual rifle to find on today's market, and this example is unlike any that we have had before! The Albini rifle (or Albini-Braendlin rifle) was a single-shot rifle with an action designed by an Italian officer Augusto Albini and was perfected by an English gunsmith, Francis Braendlin. The design was adopted by Belgium in 1867, however it was also used by Italy, Australia, Japan, and Russia in various configurations. As with the Snider and U.S. Trapdoor system, it could be used to convert percussion rifles to a breech loading system, and it was also used to make purpose built rifles.

We have compared our example to all of the variants we could find, and it does not match any! It features a "forward" lock and is chambered for .577 Snider, like the Australian and Japanese variants, however the barrel bands are iron, while the nose cap, trigger guard, and butt plate are brass. It also has very little in the way of markings, with just a "Perron" or Tower of Liège proof on the top of the breech block by the hinge, over the letter S. It also has a full makers mark on the right side of the butt stock:

DRESSE-LALOUX & CIE
(Bee Trademark Logo)
LIEGE

This company is a known contractor in Belgium carrying out conversions, but aside from the breech block and right side of the stock, there are no proofs, dates, maker markings, and so forth. The rear sight is ranged for what looks to be 500 to 800 yards on the ladder, but markings on the side of the base are hard to see. It has only two barrel bands, and is shorter than most variants we can find. It has two sling swivels, similar to those shown on Australian Albini rifles. Definitely some great research potential here.

Condition of the rifle is very good, showing strong bluing on the barrel and barrel bands, while there is a lot of the original case hardening on the breech block. The receiver and lock plate have a lightly oxidized patina. The stock bears the usual light scuffs and dents from military handling, but no major damage. It has a lovely dark red brown color, with some evidence of past dried on grease in areas, which we have left intact to preserve the patina.

The breech opens and the action looks to function correctly, with the ejectors on both side presenting. The firing pin is present, and still presents from the front of the bolt and springs back. The rifle is fully operational from what we can see. The bore is in excellent condition, and shows clear three groove rifling, still showing the machining marks in the grooves. There is just the tiniest bit of oxidation near the muzzle.

A scarce 19th Century Rifle that was essentially a stepping stone in breech loading development. Like most European Monarchies Belgium had an overseas empire so these rifles saw a lot of service and Belgian was major international supplier of all types of small arms during this period, equipping many Foreign Countries which continued right up to WWII and later.

A scarce Breech-Loading Albini-Braendlin Rifle, in a configuration that we have never seen before! Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1870
Caliber: .577 Snider
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 30 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Single Shot Hinged Breech

The Albini rifle (or Albini-Braendlin rifle) was a single-shot 11mm rifle adopted by Belgium in 1867. The action on the Albini rifle was designed by an Italian officer Augusto Albini and was perfected by an English gunsmith, Francis Braendlin. Initially, there were delays and problems with its delivery as the rifle seemed to have extractor issues and the Terssen rifle was adopted as a temporary measure. But once the problem was fixed and the availability of Albinis increased, Terssens were eventually withdrawn from service. The Albini rifles themselves were eventually replaced by M1870 Belgian Comblain rifles beginning in the 1870s.

The rifle has a front-hinged, forward lifting action with a mechanism that works together with the hammer-striker assembly to simultaneously lock and fire the rifle. The breech block itself houses longitudinal spring-loaded firing pin which is struck by a cylindrical striker, the back end of which is attached to the hammer via a screw through the hammer nose, and which passes longitudinally through the rear of the receiver behind the firing pin. When fired, the striker moves into the back of the breech block striking the firing pin and locking the block in place at ignition. Both striker and firing pin move in the same line as the rifle bore. Pulling the hammer back withdraws the striker from the breech block allowing it to be lifted on its pivot pin by means of a small fixed knob on the right side of the block.

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