1728 S. Etienne Breech & Lock

Here's a shot of the breech/lock area showing nice workmanship and the terrific metal finishing. Above the front end of the lock plate, there appears to be a gap - this is not so, the lock plate is beveled and that area shows dark - that is all. The inletting is very good on this piece. As you can see, the metal finishing it terrific. At that time, the French guns were more highly finished than the other Country's Government firearms, and I expect the muskets from Heritage are similar, however, the '56 Bess appears to be highly finished as well. This wasn't common for military muskets, especially those made in the States by Springfield Ammory and some of the contrators. The words "Rough", "Ill Fitting" "Course" were used by those Lietenants & Generals.
; The bottom picture is the 1778 SeaService Bess & since it is a new one for the site, it too is very well made. At 37" barrel, it would be perfect for hunting as it is. Long barrels are too hard on my back & anyof the other muskets I'm interested in would have to be shortened - not the Sea Musket.
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[musketman]

Daryl:
Are these from Heritage?

The reason I ask is that the top musket has no vent hole in the pan, at least none that I can see, them being so shiney and all...

They almost have a nickle luster to them, By the way, I thought French muskets used the double throated hammers, not the "S" shape style of the English...

 

These are from the site, yes. There's no vent for shipping reasons, just as they state. They say they can ship right to the door. If they were in firing order, they couldn't be shipped that way around or outside this country. You would not believe what has to be gone through to ship a firearm here, even though flintlocks don't even have to be registered - yet.
: They are all finished nicley, eh?
: Double throated cocks came to be after the 1728/46 versions. The 1763 Charleville, shipped to the states as well as the 1728/46's in storage, only the '63 & '77 Carbines had double throated cocks. The early locks were much more pleasing to the eye along with the stock shape. The '28's butt is very similar to the Tulle (tulee=pronunciation [fusee or fowler]) and is very nice to hold.
Daryl