Standard Catalog of Civil War Firearms. John F. Graf

FINE–$1,100

       SAXON MODEL 1844 RIFLED MUSKET, .71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made by several manufacturers, Liege, Belgium, ca. 1844-? Total imported: Unknown.

      Overall length: 57".

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      Lock plate stamped to reflect individual manufacturing companies, including “[crown] / BF” for Beuret Freres, “[crown] / AF” for August Francotte and “P.J. MALHERBE- A LIEGE”. A Liege proof mark is usually stamped on the right side of the breech. Assembly numbers mark the barrel, breech, bands and other major components.

      Though originally designed as a smoothbore, most were rifled during the 1850s. Two types of sights have been observed on Model 1844 rifled muskets: the first is a notched, block-mounted sight on the breech plug tang. The second style has a folding leaf pierced with three sighting holes mounted on the barrel. Metal furniture can be either brass iron. The barrel and any iron furniture was left bright. Because gun buyers (or sellers) did not make a great effort to differentiate between the muskets of various German states, it is unknown how many Saxon Model 1844 rifled muskets were imported during the war. There are no known records of Confederate purchases.

GOOD–$375

FINE–$900

       BAVARIAN MODEL 1842 RIFLED MUSKET, .70 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made by national armory, Amberg, Germany, ca. 1842-ca. 1858. Total imported: Unknown.

      Overall length: 56-1/4".

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      Lock plate stamped “AMBERG” with the year of manufacture over a crown. manufacture over a crown.

      Originally produced as smooth bore muskets, the Model 1842s were rifled with five grooves in the early 1850s. They were the first percussion weapons adopted by the Bavarian army. The three-band weapon has a simple blade front sight just to the rear of the front barrel band. The rear sight is a simple notched block of iron mounted to the breech tang. Examples have been observed with a hinged rear sight. Though Marcellus Hartley commented on the availability of Bavarian muskets in his communications with the Secretary of War, no evidence of any purchase has been discovered. No records of Confederate purchases are known.

GOOD–$375

FINE–$900

       FRENCH MODEL 1816 RIFLED MUSKET, .71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made by a variety of French and Belgium gun manufactories, ca. 1816-ca. 1822. Total imported: at least 2,000.

      Overall length: 58-1/8".

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      A wide variety of lock plate markings have been observed. The barrel tang is engraved with the model designation, “M 1816.”

      After the French government retired its flintlock, smooth-bore Model 1816 muskets, the German State of Wurttemberg acquired them. The Germans converted the muskets to percussion by replacing the flintlock hammer, pan, and frizzen, with a bolster brazed to the breech, a cone threaded into it, and a new hammer. Furthermore, they rifled the barrel and added a long-range rear sight. When Union purchasing agent Marcellus Harley purchased 2,000 of the rifled muskets in Liege, he called them “Wurttemberg government guns.” No records of Confederate purchases are known

GOOD–$375

FINE–$900

       FRENCH MODEL 1822 RIFLED MUSKET, .69/.71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made by royal arsenals at Tylle, Charleville, Mutzig and St. Etienne and copied by Liege manufacturers, ca. 1822-ca. 1842. Total imported: Unknown, but Union records show over 147,000 French and Belgium muskets were purchased.

      Overall length:Type I, 58".

      Type Type II, 55-4/5".

      Type II, 55-4/5".

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      Lock plate markings reflect arsenals where manufactured. The barrel tang is engraved with the model designation, “M 1822” and year of manufacture. Liege-made examples have only the year of manufacture proof marks. A “T” will follow the model number on weapons altered in French arsenals. French barrels may also be stamped with the date of alteration and caliber in millimeters in addition to the usual proof marks.

      French regular line infantry carried the longer, Type I Model 1822 muskets. Voltiguers (light infantry) carried the shorter, Type II muskets. Both were originally configured as smoothbore, flintlock muskets, but were later converted to percussion by replacing the hammer and inserting a cone directly in the top of the barrel and plugging the vent or by brazing a bolster over the vent. Many were rifled and received long-range rear sights at the same time. Union gun buyers purchased at least 147,000 French and Belgian muskets during the Civil War. However, their records do not indicate model designations making it impossible to know exactly how many Model 1822 muskets made it to the United States. The U.S. Ordnance Department rated French and Belgian rifled muskets as 2nd class. No record of Confederate purchases is known.

BOTH TYPES: GOOD–$375

FINE–$900

       FRENCH MODEL 1842 RIFLED MUSKET, .70/.71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made by French royal and Imperial arsenals and copied by Liege manufacturers, ca. 1842-ca. 1855. Total imported: Unknown, but Union records show over 147,000 French and Belgium muskets were purchased.

      Overall length:Type I, 58-1/4".

      Type II, 56".

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      Lock plate markings reflect arsenals where manufactured. Between 1848 and 1852, French lock plates are inscribed with “Mre. Nle. de” followed by a city name. After 1852, this was changed to “Mre. Impale. de” followed by the city name. The barrel tang is engraved with the model designation, “M 1842” and year of manufacture.

      Liege-made examples have only the year of manufacture proof marks. A “T” will follow the model number on weapons altered in French arsenals. French barrels may also be stamped with the date of alteration and caliber in millimeters in addition to the usual proof marks. millimeters in addition to the usual proof marks.

      Originally configured as smoothbore muskets, the Model 1842 was the first percussion long arm that the French Army adopted. French regular line infantry carried a 58-1/4” long version of the Model 1842 musket. Voltiguers (light infantry) carried a shorter, 56” long version. Either sized of the Model 1842 can be recognized by its back-action lock. All iron was left bright. In 1853, many Model 1842 muskets were rifled and received long-range sights. The longer infantry line weapons were shortened to 56” at this time. Union gun buyers purchased at least 147,000 French and Belgian rifled and smoothbore muskets during the Civil War. However, their records do not indicate model designations, making it impossible to know exactly how many Model 1842 rifled muskets made it to the United States. The U.S. Ordnance Department rated French and Belgian rifled muskets as 2nd class. No record of Confederate purchases is known.

BOTH TYPES: GOOD–$375

FINE–$900

       PIEDMONTESE MODEL 1844/60 RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made