Peru - Comblain | MilitaryRifles.com

Peruvian Long Lever Comblain II

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Peruvian Comblain II Rifle - Photo Credit Arthur Van Roosem Koninklijk Legermuseum in Brussels (klm-mra.be/nl)

Operating Mechanism

Markings

Bayonet

Distinguishing Chartacteristcs

Types

Additional Information

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Arthur Van Roossem Head of Firearms at the Koninklijk Legermuseum in Brussels.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Peru's struggle for independence was spearheaded by two prominent South American liberators, José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar. Supported by a Chilean naval squadron, they overcame Spanish and Criollo forces, culminating with San Martín declaring Peru's independence in Lima on July 28, 1821. The struggle persisted until December 1824, when the Spanish forces were finally defeated at the Battle of Ayacucho.

In the late 1860s, the primary arms of the Peruvian Army (Ejército del Perú) consisted of rifled muskets from American, Austrian, British, and Prussia, acquired through various English and European dealers. Like other South American armies, the Peruvians sought to modernize by adopting the newly developed metallic cartridge breechloading rifles. Over the next two decades, they acquired a diverse array of rifles from numerous sources, often prioritizing affordability over standardization. These rifles included M8166 Springfield rifles, Spencer and Remington-Geiger Carbines, Henry and Winchester M1886 repeating rifles, M1866 Chassepot rifles, Remington Rolling blocks chambered in .43 Spanish, British Snider Enfields and Belgium Comblains.

Map of South America 1870 - Photo Credit https://omniatlas-media.s3.amazonaws.com/

DEVELOPMENT

For more information on the development of the Comblain rifle, please go HERE.

GENERALLY

In 1869 the Government of Peru, led by President Colonel Jose Balta, sent a commission to Europe to investigate and purchase more modern arms for the Peruvian Army (Kirton). The Commission went to Belgium where they placed an order for around 2,000 Comblain II rifles. This was one of Comblain's first military orders for his patented Comblain rifle. Manufacturing for this order did not occur until 1871, with delays on the final configuration pattern of the rifle. The Peruvian rifle was not manufactured in the standard pattern of the other Comblain rifles. They received a long lever Comblain rifle which carried the designation of II after the word Comblain on the right side of the action. These rifles were manufactured by G. Mordant of Liege and possibly a few other syndicate members.

In 1872, Peru found the Comblain rifles to be satisfactory and returned to Belgium in order to purchase more. By this time, however G. Mordant had passed away and the Liege syndicate was actively working on Comblain rifles for both Chile and Brazil. They were not successful in their negotiations with the syndicate and were forced to look at different rifles.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS

The Peruvian Comblain II main distinctions from other Comblain rifles are the unique long underlever, unique exposed hammer, and detachable lower tang secured with one screw through the walls of the action (Jonathan Kirton in his book states that some later types have two short screws, but I have not seen this to confirm). The action body is made of steel (as opposed to the M1870 Belgian Comblain) along with the rest of the parts (buttplate, forearm tip, forearm attachment screw, the barrel bands, etc.)

Peruvian Comblain II Rifle - Photos Credit Arthur Van Roosem Koninklijk Legermuseum in Brussels (klm-mra.be/nl)

OPERATING MECHANISM

For more information on the operating mechanism of the Comblain rifle, please go HERE.

MARKINGS

Similar to other Comblain rifles, the Peruvian Comblain IIs featured the Syndicate Serial Number, "B.N.," and "Brevete" markings. However, these rifles are uniquely identified by the "Comblain II" marking, making them the only Comblain rifles to bear the "II" designation. There is also a "GP" oval stamp on the top of the nock form near the action. This stands for "Gobierno del Peru" or "Gobierno Peruano" (Government of Peru). However, some surviving examples like pictured below are speculated to be sales examples in Belgium and don't have the marking. The below rifle is marked "Bayet Frères" and an example of one of the rifles not manufactured by G. Mordant.

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Peruvian Comblain II Rifle - Photos Credit Arthur Van Roosem Koninklijk Legermuseum in Brussels (klm-mra.be/nl)

SPECIFICATIONS, STATISTICS & DATA

We would be grateful if anyone were able to provide us with the below information.

Overall Length: 1,200 mm (47.5 in)
Weight, empty: ____ Kg (___ lbs)
Barrel Length: 832mm (32.75 in)
Rifling:
Sight: Quadrant, graduated from 200 (220 yds) to 1,000 m (1,100 yds)

SHORT RIFLES, CARBINES & SPECIAL VERSIONS

Peru only used the long rifle Comblain II and did not use any other types of Comblain rifles.

BAYONET

It is believed that Peru used the M1870 Yatagan Sabre Bayonet similar to the other Comblain rifles. We have not been able to confirm this. If you have any information on this please let us know.

CARTRIDGE

The Peruvian Comblain IIs were chambered for the Standard Belgium Comblain Cartridge, to see more on this cartridge please go here: Belgium Comblain Cartridge.

MANUFACTURING DATA

The Peruvian Government ordered 2,000 Comblain rifles along with a supply of Ammunication from the Liege Syndicate. G. Mordant of Liege manufactured a majority of these rifles however it is unlikely that he was the only syndicate member to produce this entire order.

UTILIZATION BY OTHER COUNTRIES

No records show official use of this rifle outside of Peru.

PREDECESSOR & FOLLOW-ON RIFLES

Predecessor Rifle: Peru purchased many rifles from Europe and the United States before and around the same time as the Comblain rifle. They are listed above but we will not be listing them here.

Follow-On Rifle(s): Peruvian Mauser 1891