Original Item: Only One Available - As used in the U.S. Civil War. This is very unusual and interesting, having been both rifled and converted to percussion. It is also what company director Christian Cranmer calls a "sleeper", waiting for someone to wake it up and restore it, however in this case we thought it was better left alone. It has a fantastic patina of age, looking like it was on a wall display for a long period of time, possibly with candles or wood fires being burned. This has deposited a lovely layer of brown on much of the metalwork, which just makes it look great.

This lovely patinated pistol started life as a French Modèle 1822 Flintlock pistol, made at Mutzig Arsenal. This was one of the last flintlock models put into service. In the years since it was produced, it was both converted to percussion, and then rifled. These were very commonly exported to the United States during the Civil War.

The tang of the barrel by the rear sight is marked M'le 1822, for the model, and there is a T behind the tang screw, which indicates a percussion "transformation". There is also the word bis (again) under the model marking marking, indicating another "transformation", in this case the addition of rifling to the barrel. The lock is clearly marked:

This is the abbreviation for Manufacture Impériale de Mutzig (also known as Manufacture d'Armes de Mutzig), the Imperial Arsenal in the French town of Mutzig, located in the Château des Rohan (The Castle of Rohan). The castle's history dates back to the 13th century, and after the French revolution, it became a small arms factory, as the castle was disowned by the Rohan family and pillaged during the conflict. In 1799, it was bought by the arms manufacturers, brothers Coulaux of Klingenthal, Bas-Rhin, who, on April 20 1801, opened their weapons factory in its walls. It was at this factory that a native of Mutzig, Antoine Alphonse Chassepot, fabricated some of his famous rifles, one of the most advanced firearms of its time.

Unfortunately, Mutzig is located in the often-contested eastern region of France, Alsace-Lorraine. Due to this the arsenal stopped producing in 1869, so all Chassepot rifles by this maker are extremely rare. This region was captured by Germany in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian war, and not returned until after WWI.

The pistol has the standard 7 3/4 inch rifled barrel, 14 inches in overall length with all brass mounts. It still retains the original cup tipped ramrod, and is marked with serial number 22062 on the left side of the barrel and on the left side of the stock. The barrel still bears crisp proofs, including C.de I7.6 for an 17.6 mm bore, which is approximately .69". There is also a M. 1855 marking by the cap bolster, indicating that it underwent one of the conversions in 1855 at Mutzig. There are additional proof markings all over the pistol, including a faded stock cartouche on the left, which definitely give it some great research potential.

The pistol is really in lovely condition, with a fantastic patina overall, giving it a lovely aged brown color that is so hard to achieve. The lanyard ring on the butt cap is still present, and the stock is really in great shape, not showing any major arsenal refinishing. There is just a bit of cracking near the rear lock screw, a very common place for it to occur. We checked the bore, and it is actually in very good condition, partly bright and showing clear lands and grooves, with overall patination and some oxidation. The lock is functional, however the tumbler is worn, so it no longer holds securely at the half cock position.

This a very good representative example of the many interesting European cast-off weapons that crossed the ocean to serve during the American Civil War, and would be a nice addition to any display of imported arms, having been updated prior to exportation.

In lovely used condition, a French M-1822 Percussion Converted Rifled Pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1830s, updated 1855
Bore Diameter: .69 rifled
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 7 3/4 Inches
Overall Length: 13 3/4 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 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.