MAS (Manufacture d'Armes St. Etienne) French Mle 1822 Antique Muzzle Loading Rifled Musket. Sn - 22861 Single Shot .69 Cal Musket Rifle

The French Mle 1822 musket was the last smoothbore musket used by the French Army. In later life, when rifling came into use, many of the smoothbore m 1822 muskets were rifled with 4 groove rifling cut into the bore. Much later on in service life, these guns were converted to the percussion system. This is an original flintlock French Mle 1822 smoothbore musket converted to a rifled barrel by rifling the existing barrel. The rifle has a 42 ½ inch barrel with an overall length of 58 inches. The iron lock plate is fitted with a continental style ring neck cock and carries feint arsenal engraving. The rifle is only fitted with a foresight, no rear sight being modified to fit the gun. The rifle has steel furniture with 3 iron driving bands, original iron ramrod and both sling swivels. The bore of the barrel has good 4 groove rifling with the normal staining and residue from use. The left hand side of the tang is stamped C&S and the under side of the breech carries proof marks and stampings. The stock is in good condition with the normal minor knocks and bumps from service use. The left hand side of the butt has the correct cutout for the riflemans cheek when firing the rifle. The weapon’s cocking and firing actions work crisply. The price includes UK delivery. N.B As an antique muzzle loading weapon no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 22861