My new leadslinger should be here today - Party like it's 1777

[John Spartan]

Strictly speaking (by all typical modern definitions) they are not rifles so you are correct.
As to “why” I dunno. I’ve contacted Pedersoli multiple times via email and, while they have all been very helpful and friendly it is clear English is a second language for all I’ve dealt with. But obviously they have American distributors who I suppose could fix it if it was really thought to be that big a deal.
But I always call smoothbore long guns “muskets“ for that very reason as the presence of rifling is a “big deal” in historical context.
Suppose I should look up the definition of “musket“ someday!

 

[Fitzhugh Williams]

Thanks. From what I understand rifling is a big deal in Great Britain today. And I am sure that is one of their markets, so it makes me wonder. Still, like some Brit once said, what's in a name?

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Maybe I am just a little slow, but why to they call it a "rifle"? It's a smoothbore, isn't it? I know the modern French term "fusil" refers to a rifle these days (smoothbore is a fusil de chasse), so maybe it is all in the translation?

Fusil in period generally referred to light smoothbores. A rifle was a rifle.

 

[hanshi]

But I always call smoothbore long guns “muskets“ for that very reason as the presence of rifling is a “big deal”.

I do the same, John.

 

[pheenix99]

Maybe I am just a little slow, but why to they call it a "rifle"? It's a smoothbore, isn't it? I know the modern French term "fusil" refers to a rifle these days (smoothbore is a fusil de chasse), so maybe it is all in the translation?

Sometimes translating from one language to another does get a little weird sometimes. That's why in Afghanistan, we called them "interpreters" and not "translators"

 

[Grenadier1758]

Maybe I am just a little slow, but why to they call it a "rifle"? It's a smoothbore, isn't it? I know the modern French term "fusil" refers to a rifle these days (smoothbore is a fusil de chasse), so maybe it is all in the translation?

It's called a smooth rifle because even though the bore is smooth, from 10 feet away the gun has the architecture of a rifle. The barrel is of the form of a rifled gun and it will have front and a rifle like rear sight. Often the bore diameter will be considerably smaller than a typical fowling gun, 45 caliber to 54 caliber compared to 20 gauge to 10 gauge. The stock will have the form to be held more like a rifle. There may be double set triggers.

Putting a rear sight on a smooth bored fowling gun does not make it a smooth rifle. It makes it a sighted smooth bore.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Maybe I am just a little slow, but why to they call it a "rifle"? It's a smoothbore, isn't it? I know the modern French term "fusil" refers to a rifle these days (smoothbore is a fusil de chasse), so maybe it is all in the translation?

It's called a smooth rifle because even though the bore is smooth, from 10 feet away the gun has the architecture of a rifle. The barrel is of the form of a rifled gun and it will have front and a rifle like rear sight. Often the bore diameter will be considerably smaller than a typical fowling gun, 45 caliber to 54 caliber compared to 20 gauge to 10 gauge. The stock will have the form to be held more like a rifle. There may be double set triggers.

Putting a rear sight on a smooth bored fowling gun does not make it a smooth rifle. It makes it a sighted smooth bore.

 

[Fitzhugh Williams]

We are talking about the 1777 French fusil, not a smooth rifle. It has no rifle architecture at all.

 

[Youngblood]

Where are the pics of this new boom stick?

 

[pheenix99]

Where are the pics of this new boom stick?

On the first page.

 

[Grenadier1758]

We are talking about the 1777 French fusil, not a smooth rifle. It has no rifle architecture at all.

Then you have a smooth bore with a rear sight.

 

[Fitzhugh Williams]

I don't believe a 1777 had a rear sight. Or a front one for that matter. Only a bayonette lug.

 

[Youngblood]

Yeah theres a front sight on the front barrel band.
Nice looking piece, good on you!

 

[tjarcher]

Very cool

 

[pheenix99]

It's called a smooth rifle because even though the bore is smooth, from 10 feet away the gun has the architecture of a rifle. The barrel is of the form of a rifled gun and it will have front and a rifle like rear sight. Often the bore diameter will be considerably smaller than a typical fowling gun, 45 caliber to 54 caliber compared to 20 gauge to 10 gauge. The stock will have the form to be held more like a rifle. There may be double set triggers.

Putting a rear sight on a smooth bored fowling gun does not make it a smooth rifle. It makes it a sighted smooth bore.

I always figured "smooth rifle" was comparable to referring to a magazine as a clip.

 

[DuncNZ]

Don't get picky about the "rifle " name , Pedersoli name all their long firearms "Rifles" in their online catalogue , It maybe just a simple way of cataloguing their firearms , maybe it is a translation thing . They call them rifles when labeling the photos , and Muskets in the description and don't mention smooth or riled in the specifications for this Musket . Click on the Pedersoli add at the top of this page , go along the top line to rifles , click on that ,and all the Pedersoli long guns will come up on a list , click on the 1777 and a picture of the Musket will come up labeled Rifle , but the header mentions Musket ,click on the picture of the "rifle" and the spec sheet will come up , with access to a parts diagram .
It is not a rifle or a smooth rifle it is a French Military Musket , a little research will show it is just a translation error .
I have a 1777 Corrige Ano IX and just love shooting it.

 

[NorthFork]

Nice musket!

 

[pheenix99]

Don't get picky about the "rifle " name , Pedersoli name all their long firearms "Rifles" in their online catalogue , It maybe just a simple way of cataloguing their firearms , maybe it is a translation thing . They call them rifles when labeling the photos , and Muskets in the description and don't mention smooth or riled in the specifications for this Musket . Click on the Pedersoli add at the top of this page , go along the top line to rifles , click on that ,and all the Pedersoli long guns will come up on a list , click on the 1777 and a picture of the Musket will come up labeled Rifle , but the header mentions Musket ,click on the picture of the "rifle" and the spec sheet will come up , with access to a parts diagram .
It is not a rifle or a smooth rifle it is a French Military Musket , a little research will show it is just a translation error .
I have a 1777 Corrige Ano IX and just love shooting it.

I like to know and use the proper terms for things. Beyond that, I don't really care. Call it a cure-pipe français (french pipe-cleaner) for all I care.

 

[CyrusP]

Whatever that is called, it is VERY attractive in my eyes. Congrats!