Possible French 1777 ID Help

[03spfld]

I’m new to the forum and just recently started buying(a couple) military flintlocks. I just picked up this musket at an Auction
And haven’t been able to find out much information on it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’ll try to post pictures,
But I’m not the best at anything with computers. Thanks

 

[03spfld]

I’ve got a couple of books on Military flintlocks,but
Cannot find any information on the crown/PG
Mark on the lock.

 

[03spfld]

Some additional pictures attached.

It has a crown/PG mark in the lock. It looks like a French 1777, but is missing the buttstock plug and cheek cutout. I’m new to this forum and just started getting
Into older flintlocks. Thanks for
Any information someone might have.

 

[03spfld]

Here’s a few more

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Welcome !

I can’t say for certain, but the forward barrel band looks very similar to one on a Charleville I handled a long time ago.

 

[03spfld]

Thanks, I’m leaning toward maybe
A Belgium copy of a 1777.

 

[Straekat]

I have one very similar to yours, with the barrel cut down to 36 inches, with no cheek recess and a lighter colored wood stock. Belgian made firearms are usually marked with an "L E G" enclosed by a circle on the left side of the barrel close to the tang. Look there for markings that may have been removed.

I think this was made as a trade smooth-bore intended for use in the the third world, primarily Africa, for hunters. American and European firearms catalogues from the 1950's-60's frequently show listings for long arms very similar to what you have. These were in use there as late as the 1970s. (During that time period I saw African hunters carrying flintlock and percussion firearms and know that from personally having seen them being carried and used.) During the American Bicentennial imported muskets similar to yours, but with brass barrel bands, were sold in the US. Some of these have had the brass bands replaced with steel parts.

Check the bore, it may be relatively clean and brighter than the exterior metal parts. Have a gunsmith check the strength of the springs, internal lock parts and frizzen hardness. If he's willing to test fire it for you, consider using it.

The condition of the wood (no blemishes, dings, etc, to speak of), and the lack of matching part numbers on the assembled firearm suggest this was assembled from a combination of original "period" parts and others made to make the piece resemble military surplus.

 

[03spfld]

Thanks for your I input Straekat and Doubledeuce,
That makes since since the metal was fitted crudely.
I noticed all the metal parts have I believe a 36
Stamped on them. Maybe they salvaged the metal from one musket and installed on an available stock.
I may try shooting it if the bore looks good. The action is tight and springs good. Thanks again.

 

[FlinterNick]

I’m new to the forum and just recently started buying(a couple) military flintlocks. I just picked up this musket at an Auction
And haven’t been able to find out much information on it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’ll try to post pictures,
But I’m not the best at anything with computers. Thanks
View attachment 1696

the 1777 Charleville was copied to a degree by several European states. Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and even Prussia. They were not exact copies but very similar.

The one in your picture looks like a copy of a Belgium reproduction by Hyde Hunter of California. The Frizzen Spring was anchored in by an extra long sidelock bolt.

in any regard, most of these locks are almost all of very good quality and design. The internals varied but most were decent.

 

[hawkeye2]

Nicholas A. Genda you may have something there. I have a flint pistol, about .80" bore by Hy Hunter. The lock is very similar but not identical and the frizzen spring is anchored by the lock bolt going into the bend. The lock is marked Made in Germany inside the frizzen spring and Hy Hunter, Hollywood in front of the cock and works well. Hy Hunter was a very large importer and dealer in surplus firearms in Hollywood and most gun magazines of the '50s & '60s featured his 2 page ad offering an incredible varity of firearms at prices you wouldn't even believe today. He was also a very early importer of reproduction black powder guns and trade guns. If you search for him you should find quite a bit of info. Re the pistol, in the late '70s firearms author and importer William B. Edwards was visiting and the pistol was at hand. I happened to mention I figured that a lot of the parts used to make them were NOS original and he replied that Hy Hunter had the pistol manufactured and that all the parts were contemporary. It would be intersting to find if Hunter had the musket made or imported it.

 

[03spfld]

Thanks for the information, I’ll do a search on Hy
Hunter and see what I can find. I still plan on shooting
It, but time has been my biggest hurdle lately.