1766 Charleville

[Kyle Kalasnik]

I’ll play.

My 1766 Charleville.

The “light” 1763.

From my research:

.69 cal Smoothbore

Roughly 100,000 sent to US.

Very likely used by Continentals in American Revolutionary War. French troops had the 1777 model. And the government destroyed the their remaining 1763/1766s during the French Revolution, so they couldn’t be used against them.

Charlevilles were modified in 1773, as a spring was added to the rear barrel band for the ramrod. Previously friction fit. I have also read that this was started in 1768, thus making this a 1768.



Any opinions or documentation is greatly appreciated.

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

More pictures.

 

[Oberst]

Thanks and perfect timing, according to UPS tracking, my Pedersoli Charleville kit arrives today!

 

[TFoley]

Probably one of THE most innovative firearms of the day, risking upsetting the Brown Bess fandom.

Barrel bands instead of pins.

Interchangeable parts, or, at least, an excellent attempt at it.

More ball to the pound, too.

Also a sexy name, eh?

At last/enfin, something that Erwan and I can agree upon.

 

[lexington1]

Very nice!

 

[TDM]

What's not to like? It's a Charleville, very nice.

 

[Oberst]

I’ll play.

My 1766 Charleville.

The “light” 1763.

From my research:

.69 cal Smoothbore

Roughly 100,000 sent to US.

Very likely used by Continentals in American Revolutionary War. French troops had the 1777 model. And the government destroyed the their remaining 1763/1766s during the French Revolution, so they couldn’t be used against them.

Charlevilles were modified in 1773, as a spring was added to the rear barrel band for the ramrod. Previously friction fit. I have also read that this was started in 1768, thus making this a 1768.



Any opinions or documentation is greatly appreciated.

And, just so you know, my kit came and, in addition to the metal castings needing lots of cleanup, there is a HUGE amount of wood that is going to be sanded down to match the metal (better than not enough wood) so I plan on looking frequently at your pics to judge shaping the wood!

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

And, just so you know, my kit came and, in addition to the metal castings needing lots of cleanup, there is a HUGE amount of wood that is going to be sanded down to match the metal (better than not enough wood) so I plan on looking frequently at your pics to judge shaping the wood!

Let me know if you need more specific pics. Say at a certain angle or what have you. Good luck.

 

[Oberst]

Let me know if you need more specific pics. Say at a certain angle or what have you. Good luck.

Thank you! Working on the metal right now. The casting sprues are huge and the metal is rough so doing lots of file work then going to go through many different sandpaper grits to get to a shine. Then I will be fitting the wood. Seems like around the buttplate it’s about 1/8-1/4” proud so carrying the shape through the buttstock will be the careful work. Thanks, again!