1837 Date Antique FRENCH VERSAILLES M1777/1822 Percussion Conversion Musket Early 19th Century FLINTLOCK to PERCUSSION Musket

Description:
1837 Date Antique FRENCH VERSAILLES M1777/1822 Percussion Conversion Musket

Early 19th Century FLINTLOCK to PERCUSSION Musket

Here Ancestry Guns presents a French Versailles Charleville Pattern Model 1777/1822 Flintlock to Percussion Conversion Musket. In 1717, a flintlock musket for the French infantry was standardized. This became the first standard flintlock musket to be issued to all French troops. While it is more correctly called a French infantry musket or a French pattern musket, these muskets later became known as “Charleville muskets”, after the armory in Charleville- Méziéres, Ardennes, France. The standard French infantry-long gun was also produced at Tulle, Saint-Étienne, Maubeuge Arsenal, and other sites. While technically not the correct name for these muskets, the use of the name Charleville dates back to the U.S. Revolutionary War, when Americans tended to refer to all of the musket models as Charlevilles. 

The Charleville smoothbore musket was the standard issue flintlock musket for the French Empire throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. As mentioned, 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. It is estimated that tens of thousands of Charleville muskets were produced throughout the 1700’s.

With much training, a single soldier could fire off between two and three rounds per minute. The weapon itself weighed roughly 10 pounds and had up to a 47” barrel, where it was loaded through the muzzle. It was chambered for a .69 lead musket ball, as compared to the British “Brown Bess”, which chambered a .75 ball. It was generally effective up to, at the most, 50 yards. 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 musket, the M1816, was patterned on the Charleville.

The overall condition is very good. Dark, even patina throughout. The action is excellent. The bore is smooth and dim. The stock has a period chip over the lock, but is otherwise in great shape. This example has a “V/1837” marked barrel tang and a “Versailles” marked lock. “17721” is marked on the left side of the barrel at the breech, and “17721 D.K.M.” marked on the cheekpiece. An interesting French musket that could have been imported and used in the American Civil War.

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

Barrel is 42-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .69 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$1850

#260549
 

Antique: Yes

Price: $1,850.00
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