11 x 59R : [F] ; 11 mm Gras Machine Gun & 11 mm Vickers

priming cap : attachment : press fit

Reference: Datig, F A : 1963 : Cartridges for Collectors : Borden Publishing Co : Vol I : p 84. Description: adopted by France as a metallic cartridge conversion to its Chassepot (adopted in 1866, and using a combustible cartridge, although ballistically an advanced design). It was much used in countries within the French sphere of influence, North Africa, the Balkans, Greece and Japan. Besides the Gras rifle, the Remington Rolling Block was available chambered for it, as was the Greek Mylonas, although the Greek army soon standardised on the Gras. During the First World War, the Gras case was standardised by the Allies as the basis for a large calibre Vickers aircraft machine gun, and was employed with a disintegrating link belt. The last known official user was the Yemen, into the 1950s.

S.F.M. // \Ufive pointed outline star\N // GG \Ulinked in monogram, first letter reversed\N // \Ufive pointed outline star