April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
This rifle is very similar to the Model 1793 Infantry rifle, but is slightly longer. For an identical example, see pages 97 and 98 of "French Military Small Arms" by Didier Bianchi. Very few of these were made and very few exist today. The swamped, octagonal barrel features small front sights and deep seven groove rifling. The breech is dated 1811 and is marked with two deep inspector's cartouches and a few others inspector's initials. The flat lockplate has beveled edges and a rounded tail section. It is stamped in the center, "MRE, IMP LE. / De VERSAILLES". It also has a brass pan and a reinforced cock. The rifle has standard furniture for this model which is of heavy brass, including a heavy brass sling swivel mounted on the back of the trigger guard and an iron swing swivel mounted on the fore-end. The plain walnut stock of classic Napoleonic form is full length and extends to the end of the muzzle. There is a large, rounded cheek case extending across the entirety of the butt on the left side. The musket is stamped on the side plate panel with the inspector's cartoches "LF" and across the trigger guard tang "NOEL". Near the back of the left side of the butt stock there is a round cartouche with a large "EF" stamped in the center and dated 1812. There is also an "FB" inspector's stamp below the cheek case. CONDITION: This musket is in crisp as found and untouched condition. The barrel retains a dark brown patina and has excellent markings and deep rifling. The lock retains a dark brown patina and is in its original flintlock configuration. The markings are crisp but the top jaw and top jaw screw are later replacements. The brass furniture retains a dark, unpolished patina and the stock retains its original finish, with no cracks, restoration, or repairs but there are a few scattered storage marks. The rifle is complete with its original iron ramrod. This is a very crisp example of an extremely scarce Napoleonic rifle.