Original Item: Only One Available- as used in the American Revolution and Napoleonic war. Once as numerous as Brown Bess Muskets the French equivalent was referred to as the CHARLEVILLE Musket. However, Charleville was only one of the manufacturing Arsenals, the predominant one being St. Étienne. The design was first introduced in 1717, and went through numerous versions over the years such as the 1763 and 1766 variants, which were supplied in some quantities to the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War.

This example is a rare Modèle 1766/68 Artillery Carbine Variant, and this very gun was featured in George Neumann’s The History of Weapons of the American Revolution, shown and described in plate M.37 on page 78. The text from the book is as follows:

“This short musket is the type believed carried by the French Artillery. Its typical iron furniture follows the 1768 pattern (See M.31). The lock is full-size and the rammer is trumpet-shaped. It was made at the Maubeuge Manufactory (lock marked MANUF MAUBEUGE). Also present is a crown over the inspector's mark “B”. Note how the piece of flint in the cock was usually held in a strip of lead or leather”

This example has all steel mounts, as brass mounts were generally only used for Naval issue. The lock is clearly marked with Maubeuge / Manuf. R'le., for manufacture at the government arsenal located in Maubeuge, France, today along the Northern border with Belgium. As stated above there is also a CROWN / B inspector mark on the lock plate. We checked the barrel, and there are traces of markings, but nothing we can read, and there are no markings on the stock that we can see. Differing from the Brown Bess not only using all steel mounts the barrel is secured by three-barrel bands with springs and not pins.

Condition is very good, displaying a lovely matured patina overall. The metalwork has a lovely plum brown patina, while the stock displays a mottled brown color from over two centuries of age and cleaning. The lock is still functional, holding at half cock and firing at full, and the mainspring is strong. The trumpet ramrod is in very nice condition, and easily slides out of the stock. The lower sling swivel is present and moves easily, however the upper sling swivel is missing. There is a silver eye-shaped ornament on the right side of the butt stock, probably added when it was in private hands after military service.

A lovely example of a rare variant of the famous Charleville flintlock musket, featured in a book on American Revolutionary weapons. Ready to research and display!

Year of Manufacture: circa 1770
Caliber: .71"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 38 ½ Inches
Overall Length: 53 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.