Belgian Model 1844/60 Piedmontese Rifled Musket

American Civil War

.71 caliber. 40.5" round barrel secured by three flat spring-retained bands. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, European hardwood stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion rifled musket. Lock marked with the small {Crown}/AF mark of Auguste Francotte, stock with Francotte maker's roundel on obverse. Belgian proofs at breech and forward of the bolster. Screw retained fixed notch rear sight on breech plug tang, iron front sight blade on barrel, behind the front strap of the upper barrel band. Retains both sling swivels and a full-length trumpet head ramrod. 10,176 Belgian muskets of this pattern were imported during the American Civil War and are identifiable in period reports as their screw mounted fixed sights are noted. 2,000 were supplied by Marcellus Hartley and the balance were delivered by Herman Boker as his Sample #15. A very nice condition example of a less common Civil War import arm.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.