Product Description
CIVIL WAR Antique FRENCH St. Etienne M1822 Perc. Conversion CAVALRY Carbine
French Army Carbine w/ “BELGIAN” Style Conversion
Here we present an antique French St. Etienne Model 1822 Flintlock to Percussion Conversion Cavalry Carbine, made circa 1822 at the arsenal at St. Etienne and likely converted to percussion circa the start of the American Civil War. These obsolete muskets were imported to the U.S. Ordnance Department and the Confederacy by the thousands during the first few months of the American Civil War. The French Model 1822 was the last flintlock infantry musket to see widespread use in the French army and remained in production for about 2 decades, finally being officially replaced by the very short lived Model 1840 percussion musket.
As originally produced, the Model 1822 was a flintlock with a conventional forward action lock, a .69 smooth bore, and a 42” barrel for the line infantry and a 40” barrel for the Voltiguers, or light infantry. The M1822 was the pinnacle of development for the flintlock infantry musket in French service, and so impressed the U.S. Ordnance Department that the U.S. Model 1835/40 flintlock musket was based upon the Model 1822. When the new percussion firing system started being produced, the French, as with most of the military powers in the world, found themselves with thousands of now obsolete flintlock military muskets and no easy or inexpensive way to replace them with new percussion models.
Three types of alteration were performed. All alterations involved grinding the flash pan down and replacing the hammer. The “French Style” conversion added a drum and nipple to the flashhole. The “Belgian Style” involved plugging the vent hole with a weld and tapping a nipple directly into the barrel. This is the type of conversion that was only done at Harper’s Ferry and Springfield and is sometimes referred to as an “armory conversion.” The last type of conversion was used late in the renovation process, beginning about 1852, and involved adding a bolster to the breech of the barrel, so it is termed the “Bolster Style” of conversion.
The overall condition is good. Dark patina throughout. The action is strong. The bore is smooth and dim. Old repair around the wrist of the stock with wire.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 19-1/2 inches.
Caliber: .72 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$900
#240300