Manufacture d’Armes de Tulle Tulle .69 1842 Infantry Smoothbore Musket Muzzleloader .69 Cal Musket Rifle

A French Modèle 1842 infantry musket from the Manufacture Royale de Tulle, one of the great state arms-producing centres of 19th century France.

The Modèle 1840 and 1842 were France's first widely adopted percussion arms, representing a decisive break from the flintlock era. The Mle 1842 was a percussion muzzle-loading firearm originally produced as a smoothbore of approximately 18mm (.71 calibre), with an overall length of around 56 inches in standard infantry configuration. The back-action lock — correctly fitted to the French 1842 pattern, in contrast to the conventional side lock of its British contemporaries — would be marked "Mre Rle de Tulle" on the lock plate.

The Tulle Arsenal was one of the main French small arms producing centres from the 17th century through to the 20th. Manufacture at Tulle, alongside Châtellerault and Saint-Étienne, produced arms that remained in service through mid-19th century conflicts and into the early years of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, particularly with reserve and second-line units as more modern breech-loaders entered service.

This example has been sporterised — altered from its original military configuration at some point in its service life — and is offered complete with its bayonet, making it a coherent and displayable grouping. A genuine and accessible antique of French imperial infantry history.

Ref: 074

Purchase with confidence from a family run business with over 40 years experience.