Curator's Corner: Charlie Chaplin's 1878 Beaumont Rifle from Shoulder Arms

Philip Schreier joins John Popp on this edition of NRA News Curator's Corner. The two examine this very famous rifle from World War I. Air date: 12-16-2013. nramuseums.com

[@Shadow0fd3ath24]

Maybe in a movie.....but these would almost certainly not be used in ww1 unless a guy bought his own and his superiors allowed him to(very unlikely), the dutch had surplussed them out 18 years earlier after the m95 was procured and no records have been found of any of them used in ww1.

[@hoodoo2001]

Phil: That is a incredibly neat story! Speaking of guns of the period:
I was curious if you have a Swiss Vetterli as it has a signficant American connection I was unaware of until recently. I just picked one up due to the history of this type weapon which was sold in great quantities in the teens and twenties by Bannerman and Sears and I think "Monkey Wards". It had a nickname as the "poor man's bear rifle" and apparently were all over the rural US because they were so cheap but basically like a Winchester with a bolt action. Some of the Vetterli's were used in the fights and "battles" that the coal miners (who could only afford cheap guns) fought in during the teens and twenties. Vetterli rimfire ammo has been found on Blair Mountain and some were noted seized after one fight around 1912 (Winchesters were the most common rifle used apparently, but I think they were mostly the 73's of which used ones were common in the teens and twenties).
The Swiss Vetterli's use died away by the 40's and commercial and surplus rimfire ammo dried up, but recently there has been a resurgence of interest due to it easily being converted to fire centerfire ammo and now cases are being made for handloaders. The rifles were inexpensive and still are to some extent but that is probably going to change as black powder shooters start enjoying them as they are very, very well made rifles.

[@HinrikS]

Thats awesome. I really liked that movie, and now i like it even more.