Original French Napoleonic Issue M-1811 Charleville St. Etienne Flintlock Musket – British Proofed Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available- as used in the American Revolution and Napoleonic war. Once as numerous as Brown Bess Muskets the French M1777 equivalent was referred to as the CHARLEVILLE Musket. However. Charleville was only one of the manufacturing Arsenals, the predominant one being St. Etienne.

This example has all steel mounts, as brass mounts were generally only used for Naval issue. The lock is marked Manufact. a St. Etienne, the barrel tang marked 1811. The Musket bears British proof marks on the left side of the barrel indicating that after Waterloo it was imported into England, most probably as war booty, and had new markings applied. The right side of the barrel retains the original French proof marks, as do the barrel bands and trigger guard.Differing from the Brown Bess not only using all steel mounts, the barrel is secured by three-barrel bands and not pins. Used overall condition this musket comes with a later all steel button nosed ramrod.

In 1815 the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo closed the doors on the Emperor’s ambitions and French Military dominance in Europe.

This is a nice example of the French line musket of the day, captured and imported into England, and still retains the original markings so often removed when sold off into private service. Stored for years before disposal into the civilian market when released from military stores makes these fine examples.

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