M1870 Belgian Comblain
| M1870 Belgian Comblain | |
|---|---|
![]() Chilean soldier during the War of the Pacific and his Comblain[1]  | |
| Type | Service Rifle | 
| Place of origin | Belgium | 
| Service history | |
| Used by | Chilean and Peruvian armies | 
| Wars | War of the Pacific | 
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hubert-Joseph Comblain | 
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.3 kg (withpout bayonet) | 
| Length | 130 cm (without bayonet) | 
| 
 | |
| Cartridge | metalic | 
| Cartridge weight | 40 gr | 
| Caliber | 11mm | 
| Action | Falling Block | 
| Rate of fire | 10 shots/min | 
| Effective firing range | 300 m | 
| Maximum firing range | 1300 m | 
| Sights | Iron | 
The M1870 Belgian Comblain was a falling-block rifle invented by Hubert-Joseph Comblain of Liège, Belgium and produced in several variants known as the Brazilian, Chilean or Belgian Comblain.
W.W Greener wrote in Modern beechloaders: sporting and military in 1871 (page 214):
- This rifle is called No.2, to distinguish it from the first comblain, which is a modification of the snider principle. The Comblain no 2 has the vertical sliding block and guard lever of the sharp rifle; but the arrangement for exploding the cartridge is different .
 - The mechanism of the lock is fixed in the breech block, which consists in the ordinary main-spring action upon a tumbler by a swivel. The tumbler and striker are made in one piece; the scear and trigger are also in one piece . By depressing the the lever the bressch block is brought down, the cartridge case extracted and the rifle is cocked. A fresh cartridge being inserted, and the lever returned, the rifle is ready for firing.
 

Comblain Breech block.
- The hinge screw can be removed without the aid of a turnscrew, wich arrangement allows the breech block and lock to be taken out for the purpose of cleaning.
 
- The breech arrangement is strong and simple. It is used by the Belgian volunteers, and has been severely tested both at Liege and Wimbledon.
 
Users
 Belgium:  M1882 Belgian Comblain
 Brazil:  M1873 Brazilian Comblain
 Chile:  M1874 Chilean Comblain
 Brazil:  Brazilian Comblain Carbine Model 92
Sources
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