The ZULU shotgun, catchy trade names 1880s

[Jim McDougall]

In other discussions, such as the 'suicide special' pistols on 1880s, there was the phenomenon of using catchy trade names to market cheap firearms to the public. Being such an'expert'(?) LOL, on firearms, it sure hooked me at the gunshow I was attending. While disappointed in later years discovering what I really bought......it was redeeming to know that though not especially collectible, this was an everyday item of true Americana, the shotgun of the common man in the settled territories westward, with virtually every average household as likely as not having one of these.

As the Franco-Prussian war ended, the French were left with huge inventories of system 1857 and system 1867 were left as obsolete as the army had been in the process of rearming with the 1874 Gras.
Most of these ended up in Belgium, which was of course a burgeoning center for all manner of weapons of types from many countries.

The westward expansion in the U.S. had farmers, homesteaders and ranchers needing a reliable shotgun for all purposes.

The Belgian firm of Antoine Bertrand & Fils by 1886 had become a notable purveyor of military surplus and apparently these muskets were easily altered or adapted for use as a 12 gauge shotgun. These were listed as 'ZULU' shotguns(patented trade name Dec21,1885) drawing from the Zulu war actions of British army in 1877-79 in Africa.

This company took the .70 cal. rifled barrels and bored them smooth to .12 GA (.73cal)........some were from .577/.58 cal. barrels to .16 GA and fitted with existing Tabatiere breech. .

Most existing ZULU shotguns had all military markings removed but have Liege proofmarks and trade name ZULU.

These were marketed by E.C.Meacham Arms Co. of St. Louis, as well as Sears Roebuck & Co. in 1897 catalogs, and before.
It is suspected that the fabled arms retailer Francis Bannerman of New York may have supplied the Sears versions.

According to McKinley tariffs of 1892, all imported guns from Belgium should have Belgium or made in Belgium stamps.
It is noted that these were produced for 30 years, but unclear of exact dates. Meacham catalogs of 1886 and Belgian catalogs suggest that year.

So many of these were produced that the original Tabatiere system 1867 found on one is a rare thing.

[kahnjar1]

Similar action was the British Snider breech which was used by the British army. Cal for that was.577. Many of these still exist in collecters hands today and come up quite often in local auctions. They are still used in competition black powder shoots. I have shot these myself in the past.
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Stu, in reading up on this I noticed that .577 which brought to mind the conversions of 1853 Enfields from muzzle to breech loaders in 1866.

The Tabatier system was similar of course and used by the French converting Minie rifles in 1864 to breech loading, by 1870 some 358,000 were converted.
It seems unclear on the make of French muskets being converted as not only Minies were involved.

My interest in the SNIDER ENFIELD noted came from my study of the paramilitary unit in Khyber Pass in Afghanistan of c. 1880s known as the Khyber Rifles (formerly Khyber Jezailchis). These forces aligned as levees for the British army were armed with the Snider-Enfields until 1880s when the Martini-Henry began replacing them.

I think the reason the French muskets ended up being the rifles converted to these Zulu shotguns over the Sniders for example was likely the steady use of the rifles deemed obsolete being used in India/Afghanistan by Great Britain.

In further notes on the ZULU shotguns, it is noted that Schyler Hartley & Graham of Omaha were among retailers receiving these in latter 19th c. and several entries in forum discussions mention their grandparents etc in midwest towns all having and using these.

Regarding shooting these Zulu shotguns, it seems most are considered pretty well used up.......and NOT to fire them, even with black powder. It seems their value is pretty much minimal so the hundred bucks I spent wasnt bad.
Still some fun history !!

Thank you so much for the entry Stu!


First pic is the Tabatiere system; next the Snider-Enfield.......I cant tell the difference....even with my 'vast' (LOL) knowledge of guns.
My Snider-Enfield, and the Khyber Rifles misc. all from the mid 50s movie "King of the Khyber Rifles",I saw as a kid, and 'what the heck is a Khyber Rifle?' set me on the quest, for the next 50 years