AMERICAN USED 1763 CHARLEVILLE MUSKET

This is an "in the black" Charleville type musket with its original flintlock signed "Manuf. Royale / de St. Etienne" on the lock-late in its original flintlock configuration.  It looks like it "has been through the war" and exhibits many American in-period / battlefield alterations.  It is pictured and published in "Accoutrements V by James R. Johnston.  Rather than paraphrase Mr. Johnston's write-up on the musket, I will simply transcribe his description:

    "A 1760's French Auberge musket with butt stock that has been reshaped to resemble an English trade gun (Indian rework?).  Overall length is 59 1/4 inches long with the .75 caliber barrel length of 44 inches.  A period 26 inch foreshock replacement employs English style barrel pins.  This in spite of retaining the rear French barrel band now located 4 inches forward of the trigger guard.  The accompanying bayonet is a plug version with 5 1/2 inch spear point blade.  The three inch wooden bayonet handle has the blade tang peened over an iron washer on the pommel.  Both stock and bayonet handle have been painted red.  The primitive 41 inch ramrod fits the musket in all aspects, but is now too short to service the 44 inch barrel."

Additional description:  The foreshock replacement is unique in that it is not simply a saw cut, but is rather "sleeved" together. The caliber is .70 rather than the .75 cal. as stated above.  The ramrod is American blacksmith made in-period.  All mounts are standard Mod 1763 Charleville except the two toward ramrod ferrules which are sheet brass. The lock is in its original flintlock configuration and was never converted to percussion, but the frizzed screw is an in-period American replacement.  There is a large crack running through the butt from the buttplate up through the mid-section of the rear trigger guard strap (about  6 inches total).  All in all, this musket oozes character and patina. There is the standard French "D" inspection stamp on the buttstock and "65" is stamped on the side-breech area of the barrel which could be an assembly number, a rack number or a unit number.

Reference:  "ACCOUTERMENTS V" by James R. Johnston, Pg.53.