#9 • “Zulu” Converted Snider Tabatiere Breech-Loading Single Shot Shotgun

Part of March 2025 Firepower Auction (timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $140.00

Status: Sold

Category: Firearms

Manufacturer: Snider Tabatiere (Converted) Type: Shotgun Model: Zulu Caliber: Unknown - Likely 12ga Barrel Length:26" Optics: N/A ATF Form 4473 Required: No  Log:N/A S/N: UKN Ref #: N/A Notes: This is a Zulu Shotgun, a single-shot breech-loading firearm with roots tracing back to the end of the muzzleloading era, likely converted in the 1860s or 1870s, its history intertwined with the global shift to metallic cartridge firearms following the American Civil War (1861-1865). As the Civil War ushered in breech-loading technology, nations like France found themselves with vast stocks of obsolete muzzleloaders—often the Model 1857 rifle musket—prompting innovative conversions to extend their utility. The Snider system, patented by Jacob Snider in 1865, or the similar French Tabatière (snuffbox) method became early solutions, transforming these rifles into breech-loaders. Surplus arms, phased out after conflicts like the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), were sold off and reworked in Belgium into the shotguns now known as "Zulu." Originally a military rifle, this firearm was reimagined by Belgian gunsmiths who reamed its rifled barrel to a smoothbore—typically 12-gauge—and trimmed its stock for civilian use, reflecting a practical response to the era’s surplus glut. The barrel, likely ranging from 26 to 35 inches due to varied conversions, balances portability with functionality, while the weight hovers around 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6 kg). It features rudimentary iron sights—often just a front bead after military sights were stripped—no optics included, preserving its utilitarian roots. With exact unknown gauge, it is likely chambered for 12-gauge black powder shells (modern smokeless powder is unsafe), it achieves a muzzle velocity of roughly 1,000 feet per second with a 1-ounce shot load and 50-60 grains of powder, suited for hunting or short-range defense. The Snider or Tabatière breech, a hinged block flipped open for loading, marks its transitional design. Please see the photographs for more details, or contact us at 907-570-7050 or email us at FFL@alaskapremierauctions.com / Admin@alaskapremierauctions.com to schedule an in-person preview of the firearm. ***All federal firearm background checks are conducted in-house, please allow pick-up times to reflect paperwork processing time (approx. 30-45 minutes).