1777 Charleville Musket
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This is a 1777 Model Charleville Musket.
Was used in the Revolutionary by the French troops supporting the USA.
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This Charleville Musket was also made in St Etienne arsenal in France.
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Some time (during or shortly after the war), it was sold and used by the Mass Militia.
Branded by them. Probably used in the War of 1812 also
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The 1763 is the model the USA used as a template to make it's first musket "the 1798 Springfield Musket.
I have one of these also.
The 1777 Model is what the USA used as a pattern for next the model musket "the 1812 Springfield Musket".
Both Springfield model are so close and precise to the French Models that the parts are interchangeable with the French Muskets.
This musket continued life after the War of 1812 and was sold to private persons. This one had the front forestock cut off at the middle barrel band to lighten it up. LOL Was probably used as a "fowling piece (shot gun). 69 Caliber barrel. Lucky, nothing major was done to this musket.
A new forestock was added and finished to match the rest of the stock by a very skilled person. It is said his Father was a carpenter and his mother was a termite.
Darryl