(A) FRENCH MODEL 1822 NAVY MUSKET BY MAUBEUGE.

With the reestablishment of the Bourbon Monarchy under King Louis XVIII, the military forces of France went through a period of rebuilding and rearming. A group of artillery officers was tasked with developing new patterns of muskets and pistols, which were designated Model 1816 arms, followed six years later by the Model 1822—the patterns being largely unchanged visually, but utilizing more steel in key part, in lieu of the traditional forged iron (including all screws and some lock components)—and the introduction of a coned flash hole positioned lower to the pan. This Model 1822 Navy Musket is essentially a hybrid version of the army’s M1822 Light Infantry Musket. Both shared the same 40 ½ inch-long barrel, stock and mounts—with one difference—the M1816 Navy Muskets were brass-mounted, with exception of the buttplate, trigger plate and gripped rail of the trigger guard, which remained iron. In 1842, the navy adopted the .70 (18mm) caliber for its arms and began reaming out the original .68 bore barrels, as well as adding rear sights. Muskets that were so altered bear the inscription “C. de 18N” on the left of the breech, although this example is stamped “C. de 178”. The convex lockplate with reinforced cock and brass pan is engraved “Mre.. Rle. / de Maubeuge”, being produced at the royal arms manufactory at Maubeuge, although others were made at Charleville, St. Etienne and Tulle. The stock bears various arsenal stamps, including “MUTZIG” and “PARIS / 1831 in circular cartouche with French Republic rooster in center. CONDITION: The steel and iron parts a gunmetal grey with some light freckling and scatterings of surface oxidation; the lock in very good working order; the stock crisp, with only a few random bruises or dings. JLK Barrel Length: 40 - 1/2" Caliber/Bore: .70 Smoothbore FFL Status: Antique Manufacturer: Maubeuge Model: Flintlock Musket Serial Number: NSN