.69 Cal. Smooth Bore
US surcharge marked on the lock and ramrod.
This musket served in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), Revolutionary War and probably in the War of 1812.
It has an early hammer (1746) and no rear barrel band spring. This would indicate that it was one of the first 1763 Charlevilles made. They made the first group of 1763's without rear barrel band springs to keep the cost down but I guess realized that was a mistake and the next batch they started using the springs on the rear band. Also they used up their stock of 1746 hammers first before using the "new" 1763 hammers, so this shows the musket is a very early 1763. The Smithsonian has one exactly like it and there are a few (very few) example like it. The Smithsonian's guess is that these early muskets where taken from the French in the "French and Indian War" when the English and Colonial army drove France from North America (northern half). They would have been fairly new at that time if they are right.
I have loaned this musket out to several organizations for display and it has been on display at our city hall for 4th of July several times.
It has a lot of history and displays well. It is only one of three Rev War muskets I display to the public or on the internet. The rest are not displayed.
Dolk
