CIVIL WAR PERIOD Antique French Military Model 1842 Percussion Rifle Musket with Bayonet

An Antique Civil War Period French Military Model 1842 Percussion Musket with Bayonet.  These muskets were originally manufactured with a .69 caliber smooth-bore barrel and then later rifled.  This musket has not been altered to a rifled barrel.   The barrel measures 42.5" (smooth-bore), marked on the tang "Mle 1842" with several inspector's marks and dated "1843" on the right side of the breech.  The back-action percussion lock is marked "Mre Rle de Tulle".  All parts have inspectors marks.  Original steel ram rod.  The stock is solid with several arsenal and inspector's marks on the right side of the butt 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-537020

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