17th Century French Military Musket

[Randy Hedden]

http://www.jean-laurendeau.com/104b_ancarm.html

Randy Hedden

www.harddogrifles.com

[GrampaJack]

While we are on the subject of unique French muskets check out lot No. 221. Oval bore? Jack

http://www.gunrunnerauctions.com/

[Longknife]

I have seen a few blunderbuss with the oval bore but not any long barrelled pieces. I heard that the oval bore was supposed to spread the shot horizontaly. It didn't though...ED

[keweenaw]

Oval bore rifles were designed to shoot bullets and the oval spirals like standard rifling.  Here's a photo of a Selkopf rifle with the original bullets that were in the patchbox.

[Longknife]

Oval bore SMOOTHBORES like the one shown at the gunrunners website were enlarged at only the muzzle and had no oval twist in the bore. When loaded with buckshot the horizontal muzzle enlargement was supposed to spread the shot horizontally thus covering a wider area. This was used for close up work as in boarding ships or guarding mail coaches....After looking at the  gunrunner site again I see the gun has a TOTAL length of only 41 1/2 inches. That would make the barrel only about 26 inches, very correct for a ships boarding weapon......Ed