Which Military?

[eds]

Dear Col:

I'm still trying to stump you. My last military is french. It was in my dad's family for a long time. It is a rifle and has a bayonet and scabbard. It is what I would call a needle fire. There is a protrusion (needle?) on the front end of the bolt. It looks like it would fire a paper cartridge. On the side of the breech it says St Ettiene Mle 1866. It says S1873 MA on the other side of the barrel. The is also a hole drilled on the side of the stock-where a left hander would put his cheek. Around the hole are concentric rings stamped in. It says B.S.Avril 1873P. The serial number is P64669 and it is on about all the parts There are a bunch of what I would call inspection marks. The stock is also stamped J M France.

Housekeeping wise, this one has some surface rust. Is there a gentle way to handle this?

Again, thanks for your help.
Ed