April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
This musket, manufactured by Charleville, is significantly shorter than the infantry musket of the same model. Until about 1818, it was produced in a quantity of about 500,000 and was issued to light infantry as well as dragoons. For a nearly identical musket, see page 81 of "French Military Small Arms" by Didier Bianchi. The musket has a round, smoothbore barrel with faceted breech section. The flat lockplate is marked in the center "Manufre. Royle / de Charleville". It has a rounded tail section, reinforced cock, and a brass pan. The furniture is standard for this model, with most of it being brass, with the exception of the center barrel band and the rear trigger guard tang, which features finger grooves. Most of the components are stamped with a small inspector's cartouche. The full length, plain walnut stock has two circular cartouches, stamped on the right side of the butt, one which is more visible has a large "MR" in the center. The musket has its original iron ramrod. CONDITION: Very good overall. The barrel retains a spotted grey patina with a clear "C" in a cartouche stamped on the right side of the breech, as well as another cartouche on the left flat. The lock retains a light grey patina and has excellent clear markings and functions well, it is in its original flintlock configuration. Brass retains an even and pleasing mustard patina. The stock appears to have had some sanding and added finish, but is in excellent condition with only some scattered storage marks. This is an exceptionally nice example.
Caliber/Bore
.69 Smoothbore