Guns International #: 102186160
Seller's Inventory #: 226487

Category - Antique Rifles - 1500-1850 - Antique Rifles - Flintlock

Category
Antique Rifles - 1500-1850
Antique Rifles - Flintlock

Antique REVOLUTIONARY WAR French CHARLEVILLE Model 1766 FLINTLOCK MUSKET Infantry Musket from America’s War for Independence

Description:
Antique REVOLUTIONARY WAR French CHARLEVILLE Model 1766 FLINTLOCK MUSKET  

Infantry Musket from America’s War for Independence

Here we present an antique Revolutionary War French Charleville Model 1766 Flintlock Musket, made circa 1773 at the armory at Charleville in France. During the American War of Independence, the French government supplied large quantities of muskets to the Continental army. Several arsenals in France produced muskets, but the Charleville Model 1763 was the most common with the Model 1766 close behind. Soon afterwards, all French muskets were referred to as "Charlevilles." In March 1777, some 5,000 Charleville muskets were covertly received from France.

This musket was originally manufactured for the French military and was likely one of the muskets supplied to the American revolutionaries during the Revolutionary War by our French allies either covertly prior to their formal involvement beginning in 1778, or afterwards in which they supplied large numbers of these muskets. Without French assistance, it is very possible that the United States may well have lost the war, but instead, we fought side by side with our French allies and defeated the British and received favorable treaty terms that extended far beyond the original thirteen colonies. The French Model 1763 and Model 1766 muskets were widely used by the patriots and became the basis of the first U.S. martial muskets in the 1790s and beyond at the new Springfield Armory and later at Harpers Ferry. The lock is marked “CHARLEVILLE” below the French inspection mark of “Star over D”.

The Charleville smoothbore musket, garnering its name from the main armory in Charleville, France, was the standard issue flintlock musket for the French Empire throughout the mid-18th and early-19th centuries. The original musket was first delivered in 1717, and over the next several decades, saw many revisions and improvements, making them a lighter, better fighting musket. With training, a single soldier could fire off between two and three rounds per minute. It was originally chambered for a .69 lead musket ball, as compared to the British “Brown Bess”, which chambered a .75 ball. Its effective range was really quite short by modern standards. That said, battles during the 18th and early 19th century were very closely fought and usually settled with the bayonet. The Charleville musket served in many conflicts, including the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.

The overall condition is very good. Original patina. The action is excellent. The bore is smooth and untouched (read: caked in dust). The stock shows use in the form of some initials carved “JEP”, a chip at the front bottom of the lock that has smoothed out with continued use and time, and some minor stable cracks in the forearm. This one has “Charleville” in the center of the lock along with a spangled “D” near the flash pan, and a similar star with what seems to be a possible date of “73” on the rear left side of the barrel—what is under the star is very difficult to make out. Overall a very clean example of a revolutionary musket for its age and use and one that will certainly be an impactful piece in any collection.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 44-5/8 inches.

Caliber: .69 Flintlock

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$7485

#226487
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes