{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-era-french-modele-1822t-bis-percussion-converted-pistol-made-at-mutzig-arsenal-1","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Era French Modèle 1822T bis Percussion Converted Pistol made at Mutzig Arsenal","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tang of the barrel by the rear sight is marked \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM'le 1822\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, for the model, and there is a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e behind the tang screw, which indicates a percussion \"transformation\". There is also the word \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ebis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (again) under the model marking marking, indicating another \"transformation\", in this case the addition of rifling to the barrel. The lock is clearly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eM.re Imp.ale\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ede Mutzig\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the abbreviation for \u003cem\u003eManufacture Impériale de Mutzig\u003c\/em\u003e (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, \u003cstrong\u003eAntoine Alphonse Chassepot\u003c\/strong\u003e, fabricated some of his famous rifles, one of the most advanced firearms of its time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cstrong\u003e22062\u003c\/strong\u003e on the left side of the barrel and on the left side of the stock. The barrel still bears crisp proofs, including \u003cstrong\u003eC.de I7.6\u003c\/strong\u003e for an 17.6 mm bore, which is approximately .69\". There is also a \u003cstrong\u003eM. 1855\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn lovely used condition, a French M-1822 Percussion Converted Rifled Pistol, ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1830s, updated 1855\u003cbr\u003eBore Diameter: .69 rifled\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 7 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 13 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Lock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loaded\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41965513703493,"sku":"ONJR24FMA106","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR24FMA106__01.jpg?v=1724263520","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-era-french-modele-1822t-bis-percussion-converted-pistol-made-at-mutzig-arsenal-1","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}