CIVIL WAR PERIOD Antique French Military Model 1842 Percussion Rifle Musket

An Antique Civil War Period French Military Model 1842 Percussion Musket.  These muskets were originally manufactured with a .69 caliber smooth-bore barrel and then later rifled.  This musket has a 40.5", .70-.71 caliber rifled steel barrel with inspector's marks stamped on the left side of the breech and evidence of a long range site that was mounted to the top of the barrel near breech (now removed).  The back-action percussion lock is marked "PALIARD V F, A ST ETIENNE".  All parts have inspectors marks.  The steel ram rod is a replacement.  The stock was broke through the wrist area and repaired sometime during its working life and is now solid with light scratches and dings from years of service and is in good mechanical working order.

NOTE:  During the onset of the American Civil War (1860-1865), many foreign weapons of all kinds were imported by both the Union and the Confederacy.  The U.S. Government (Union) purchased 25,000 of these French muskets and a great number were imported by HERMAN BOKER & COMPANY OF NEW YORK (a large supplier of foreign arms).  The French Model 1842 was rated by the U.S. Ordnance Department as third-class-a serviceable but substandard arm.  It is said that most of these muskets were issued to Militia units.

TTI-536920

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