Charleville

[springfield art]

I recently purchased this Charleville Musket. I have always wanted a musket from that time period.

I believe it is a 1763/66? If there are any specifics that anyone can point out, I would be greatly appreciative of.

Please excuse the crummy photos, I can attempt to post better ones.

Congratulations!

 

[FlinterNick]

Yes it does, very difficult to see though. As well as a the letter “D” and a ““ just above the D..... maybe this zoomed in photo will show it clearer.

If you take the lock out there are internal markings that would identify which factory it was made at.

 

[FlinterNick]

Yes it does, very difficult to see though. As well as a the letter “D” and a ““ just above the D..... maybe this zoomed in photo will show it clearer.

FYI i can see the Charleville inscription on the lock plate, its faint but its there.

 

[Allenby]

Flinter, could you share the name of the book that has the French lock drawings? Thanks for your time with this.

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

For some reason, I really like the 1770 Charleville lock. Just very subtle differences in pan shape, etc.

 

[FlinterNick]

Flinter, could you share the name of the book that has the French lock drawings? Thanks for your time with this.

 

[FlinterNick]

For some reason, I really like the 1770 Charleville lock. Just very subtle differences in pan shape, etc.

The 1770/74 lock is more or less the same as the 1777 lock Just with a straight steel round bottom pan and straight frizzen

 

[FlinterNick]

Size comparison of a 1763 heavy charleville lock vs. a light charleville lock.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Fascinating history- thanks for sharing this information!

 

[rickystl]

Congratulations. Nice find. Yes, good history on this Thread. Thanks.

 

[kyle_kalasnik]

Congratulations. Nice find. Yes, good history on this Thread. Thanks.

Thank you, and I wholeheartedly agree with the history, which is just another plus of traditional muzzleloading.

 

[lt508th]

Can anyone on this thread speak to the types of markings found on the Charleville 1763/66? I have been looking for information regarding makers or Government proof markings for the Charleville, i.e. barrel or stock cartouche, but thus far haven't found anything conclusive. Any information or leads would be greatly appreciated!

 

[FlinterNick]

Can anyone on this thread speak to the types of markings found on the Charleville 1763/66? I have been looking for information regarding makers or Government proof markings for the Charleville, i.e. barrel or stock cartouche, but thus far haven't found anything conclusive. Any information or leads would be greatly appreciated!

US surecharge on locks and various places on the stocks, flur de lis, crown and SE, C , T or MAB and viewers initials usually AR NC and many others.

 

[lt508th]

US surecharge on locks and various places on the stocks, flur de lis, crown and SE, C , T or MAB and viewers initials usually AR NC and many others.

Thanks for the response! You certainly do seem to know your stuff on these weapons! I have a Pedersoli 1766 I am hoping to add appropriate markings to in addition to other changes for sake of authenticity. Can you recommend any publication or series of pictures that show proper placement of these markings? Thanks in advance!

 

[lt508th]

US surecharge on locks and various places on the stocks, flur de lis, crown and SE, C , T or MAB and viewers initials usually AR NC and many others.

Ahh, thanks for the picture - that helps a great deal!

 

[fireman1]

IIRC Flinternick does defarb work.

 

[lt508th]

IIRC Flinternick does defarb work.

Thanks fireman1 - I'll have to ask him about that.

 

[FlinterNick]

Thanks for the response! You certainly do seem to know your stuff on these weapons! I have a Pedersoli 1766 I am hoping to add appropriate markings to in addition to other changes for sake of authenticity. Can you recommend any publication or series of pictures that show proper placement of these markings? Thanks in advance!

I use bodroits prints and kit ravenshers documented research on 1717-1746 muskets and my own observations of original guns.

 

[lt508th]

I use bodroits prints and kit ravenshers documented research on 1717-1746 muskets and my own observations of original guns.

I'm not familiar with Bodroits prints, I'll have to research that. I have heard of Kit Ravenshears.

 

[springfield art]

Charleville Fans; I have a nice Peder Charleville, too. If you guys like Charleys, you would love "Gun-making & Shooting, Selected Treatises, a book translated by Eric Bye & J. Ashby Morton, 2017, Pub. by the NMLRA. The entire first third of the book is Manual on the Fabrication of Military Small Arms, by H. Cotty, 1806. It details manufacture of every single part of the Charleville in a fascinating manner. Even to the ages of the various teenagers who specialized in particular parts, the craftsmen, the inspection of the arms, their expected longevity, and more, for 134 pages. This Cotty guy was a Major in the Imperial Artillery Corps. Want to know about fabrication of swords & scabbards? Bayonets? It's all here for the Charley geek. Tempering, steels, please look into this book if you are a Charley Head! (NMLRA website has books for sale). Wanna know how many muzzle bands or ramrods a craftsman was expected to make per day? It's all here, including crating the finished product up for shipping. They were just as precise back then with the technology they had as we are expected to be at work today. BTW, Mr. Morton should get a medal for translating all this from the French!