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CIVIL WAR IMPORT AUSTRIAN/PIEDMONT-SARDINIA/LIEGE MUSKETOON

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This nice looking imported musketoon likely arrived in the U.S. courtesy of American purchasing agents scouring Europe for arms in 1861 and 1862. This is smoothbore, .70 caliber, with an overall length of 41 inches and a barrel measuring 27 7/8 inches. The buttplate and triggerguard tang are iron; the other mounts are brass. Swivels are mounted on the middle band and rear of the triggerguard tang. It is fitted with simple notched block sight at the rear, screwed to the breechplug, and has a barrel mounted front sight between the double straps of the upper band. The ramrod has as a swelled and the bayonet lug in mounted on the bottom. Lockplate markings were intentionally removed, but an 1852 barrel date is visible on the right side flat at the breech just forward of the bolster. The metal is very good overall, with just some gray spotting to the bright barrel. The only pitting is to the iron buttplate. The stock has good color and edges with relatively few handling marks- just a few small dings and light scratches to side flat and butt flats, with one short dark superficial streak on the left flat like it rubbed against something. The edges, fit, and color are good. There are some small inspection stamps on the left side flat, a few small stamps in the metal, and a large [crown]/VE (entwined) on the right butt flat. The bright barrel shows some gray spotting, but the only pitting is to the buttplate.

This likely started out as an Austrian tube-lock, likely the Extra Corps (or Engineer) musketoon, designated by most sources as the Model 1844, though by some as the Model 1842. These were made obsolete by the percussion 1854 Lorenz version and sold off. This one seems to have made its way to Piedmont-Sardinia (Italy,) given the Piedmont style hammer, large, fixed rear block sight, and the buttstock [crown]/VE cartouche, likely that of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Piedmont-Sardinia, and of Italy starting in 1861. From here it seems to have made it way, likely in 1861, to Liege, where gun makers like Francotte and Falisse and Trapman were making the new Piedmont Model 1860 Infantry Rifle Musket and U.S. purchasing agents like Herman Boker were on the prowl for any arms they could pawn off on the U.S. government, which was struggling to arm the large numbers of new troops.

The barrel length on this musketoon falls short of the standard 33-inches of the Austrian Extra Corps musketoon, leaving open the possibilty it is only a similar pattern, but Schwalm and Hofman note that some of these were sold to Italy and that 11,252 found their way to the U.S. (p.83.) The barrel could be an Italian or a Liege alteration. The bayonet stud, likely for a French M1822 bayonet, certainly follows the French-Belgian alterations noted on this pattern. Schwalm and Hofman quote Balace that two firms were founded in Belgium in 1861 to alter “20,000 Prussian and 160,000 Austrian arms.” The iron buttplate likely replaced a damaged brass one, but at what point in its long journey is unclear.

This is in good condition, attractive, and an interesting study piece for those interested in untangling the history of early-war arms and their suppliers.   [SR] [ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

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