Bicentennial charleville?

[bedford ranger]

Hey guys i have a chance to purchase a neglected charleville that has bicentennial and 1777 charleville stamped on the lockplate, I checked for proofs, but nothing I could make out on the barrel because of surface rust. Ill look at it again in the coming days, but does anyone have any experience with these? I have googled till my eyes got googly without finding anything relevant.

I just want to know if its a shootable repro or a replica wall hanger. Ill try and get more info and maybe a pic. Thanks! Denny

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Denny,

Pedersoli and Navy Arms had "bicentennial" commemorative muskets for sale..., and other companies could also have ordered the same (like you can get a Pedersoli Frontier as Hatfield rifle or as a Cabela's Blue Ridge Hunter)..., so it might be a Jap or it might be Italian...I do know other companies sold "muskets" for the same reason at the same time, but these could not be confused with a Charleville or a Bess.

I've seen vintage Charlevilles from Italy with the proof mark on the barrel below the stock, so you may have to pull the barrel to find a proof mark.

A Japanese musket won't have a proof mark.

hotoSmile:

LD