Anybody up to speed on French stuff?

[Gaeckle]

Ran into an interesting item this weekend......will post pictures at a later date.

Here's what it is:

A double barrel shotgun. Back action type locks well fitted to a hooked breach, nipples missing (will be replaced) a military type ramrod (steel, not wood, like one found on a Springfield), locks marked St. Etienne, very well made, appears to not have been used much, cartouches on the stock and the best for last: a bayonett lug on the side of the right barrel. The hammers on the locks are not slender little things, but rather large military types like what one would see on Springfields, converted Potsdams and the like.

Anybody ever see one of these?

[johngross]

Possibly a French Model 1850 Voltigeur Corse. Pictured on pages 94 and 95 of Du silex au piston La grande aventure des fusils reglementaires francais 1717-1865. The book is in French but the pictures are bilingual. 

John Gross

[Seth Isaacson]

http://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/model-1850-voltigeurs-corse-double-barrel-percussion-musket-with-socket-bayonet-171298/

[Gaeckle]

Yes, that is it....I have it in my possesion, the barrels were painted blue and I removed that. Nipples need to be replaced and that will be taken care of. The butplate is rusted probably due to standing on end in a damp basement. I'll burnish as much of the rust off as possible. There is a sliver of wood missing from the forearm (not much) and I'll leave that alone. The bores are remarkably clean and shootable.

In speaking with my buddies, we are thinking of freezing this item in time, so to speak.

As I have searched for info on this, it is interesting that 2,230 were made. When or how this came to the States will forever remain a mystery.

My initial investment is a hundred bucks.....not too bad for a one eyed fat guy!