Product Description
Marked XIII COLONIAL Era Antique French CHARLEVILLE Pattern FLINTLOCK Musket
Revolutionary War French Import
Here we present an antique French Charleville Pattern Flintlock Musket, made circa the mid to late-1700s at one of the national armories in France. 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.
In the United States, the Charleville is perhaps most famous for its use against the British colonists during the French and Indian War—part of the Seven Years War—and then in the colonists’ hands against Britain during the American Revolutionary War. In fact, over 100,000 Charleville muskets were purchased by the American Colonies, making this one of the primary weapons in the conflict. The Charleville was highly desired and said to have out-performed the British Brown Bess. The musket had such an impact on the Americans that their first domestically made muskets were heavily patterned on the Charleville.
The overall condition is good. Brown patina throughout. The action is excellent. Original flintlock. The bore is smooth and dim. The stock shows use. There is a 6 inch crack between the lock and rear most barrel band and another split along the grain between the rear and second barrel band. Otherwise, solid throughout.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 44-1/4 inches.
Caliber: .69 Flintlock
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$3800
#230613