1777 French Muskets

[pargent]

Ok this question is aimed at the students of French Muskets .
The cut out on the left side of the but ,when did this mod actually start to take place ?
I am well awear that the Pedersoli has this feature and that urban myth says that this was done during the 1809-1815 time frame so that younger troops (boys ) could use these muskets .
Is this in fact true ?

 

[palladius]

That's the first I ever heard that myth. As far as I know it was an integral part of the Model 1777 from its design in 1777. It was certainly well established as part of it by the time of the Year IX (1800) variant or "correction."

 

[Ike Godsey]

Ok this question is aimed at the students of French Muskets .
The cut out on the left side of the but ,when did this mod actually start to take place ?
I am well awear that the Pedersoli has this feature and that urban myth says that this was done during the 1809-1815 time frame so that younger troops (boys ) could use these muskets .
Is this in fact true ?

just a tought - if that would be the case, wouldn't it mean, that on the existing muskets this cut in the stock must/should differ from maker to maker?

from wikipedia:

Model 1777

The design of the stock was again modified for the Model 1777, with a cheek rest cut into the inboard side of the butt. The Model 1777 also featured a slanted brass flash pan and bridle, and a modified trigger guard with two rear finger ridges.

The Model 1777 is often incorrectly believed to have been used in large numbers by patriot troops during the American Revolutionary War. While the Model 1777 was used in the American Revolutionary War, it was generally only used by French troops who served on American soil, such as those under the command of General Rochambeau. American troops were instead armed with earlier Model 1763 and 1766 muskets.

if the cut in the left side of the stock was done about 20+ years after the revolution, there should be some unaltered 1777 muskets around. are there any?

 

[palladius]

if the cut in the left side of the stock was done about 20+ years after the revolution, there should be some unaltered 1777 muskets around. are there any?

It wasn't done 20 years after the Revolution, it was done in 1777, during the American Revolution and prior to the French Revolution.

 

[Alden]

...because French troops had heavy beards until Napolean took command I heard from a guy who knew a guy who knew.

 

[pargent]

Did the American's copy this feature on their 1795 muskets ?

 

[Ike Godsey]

Did the American's copy this feature on their 1795 muskets ?

no they did not -> Klick

but they copied a 1766 musket.

 

[yakimaman]

Think about it folks; what does that cutout allow you to do? It's like the adjustable comb on my trap shotgun - I get to line my right eye straight down the bbl without leaning my head.

 

[palladius]

Think about it folks; what does that cutout allow you to do? It's like the adjustable comb on my trap shotgun - I get to line my right eye straight down the bbl without leaning my head.

I agree, it's a great feature. The question is when did it start. As far as I know 1777 though the OP heard it started 1809-1815 when boys started being conscripted, which to me doesn't hold water. They really didn't start conscripting a lot of 18 and 19 year olds or younger until 1813 (20 years old was the preferred age), after the destruction of the Grande Armee in Russia. From 1809-1812 is considered an era of quasi peace, with the only fighting being in Spain, which was always a sideshow to the main events and they didn't even try to call up the full year's class of conscripts those years.

So if they started cutting the stocks it wouldn't be until 1813 which seems like a lot of work and there would be lots of surviving examples.

 

[Alden]

Think about it folks; what does that cutout allow you to do? It's like the adjustable comb on my trap shotgun - I get to line my right eye straight down the bbl without leaning my head.

Hey, you cant do that!

:rotf: