Pedersoli French Muskets

[Flint1]

Does anyone have any experience with the Pedersoli French Model 1777 Revolutionnaire or the 1777 Corrige An IV? I have a Pedersoli Kentucky and had a problem with one of the pins working itself out of the stirrup which connects the mainspring and tumbler. I was looking at one of these two as a possible smoothbore for competition. In the Pedersoli catalog they list the medals they have won at world matches. Can anyone comment on their reliability and accuracy? Other than the band springs and the shape of the frizzen I don't believe there is amy difference between these two. Does anyone prefer one over the other?
Thanks for the help.

 

[tmdreb]

I've got the 1777 Revolutionnaire, and am quite pleased with it. It sparks well, and usually has no hangfire to speak of. I've only live fired it one time, so I really can't speak to the accuracy. As long as I've owned it, it's never had any mechanical issues or problems. They seem to be very well-designed and the quality of manufacture is excellent. The main drawback nowadays is their vastly inflated price.

I've enjoyed using mine sparingly over the past five years, though I will likely part with it soon, owing to the fact that I could better use a Brown Bess and/or Baker Rifle for the reenacting impressions I'm interested in.

 

[Cruzatte]

I have seen some musket reliability contests at Fort Osage between the Territorial Militia and the US Regulars. The Militia always wins. And I think I know part of the reason why. They use Italian Brown Bess repro muskets. I personally think the Charleville repros are not worth the money, and I wouldn't buy one. I don't know if the design flaws are historic to the Charleville, or just to the Italian repros. :imo:

Cruzatte

 

[CrackStock]

Oddly enough, I am in the opposite situation in that I have a 2nd Land Bess from Military Heritage and could use a French musket. Hmmmm...

 

I have a 77 Charleville from Pedersoli and I like it. It shoots well despite a very heavy trigger pull. The lock does spark well but NEEDS sharp flints. After about a dozen shots it needs constant knapping to keep her sparking. I think the problem is perhaps poor lock geometry and a poorly hardened frizzen which is made up for with a strong main spring. Still, I got it used at a reasonable price from Track some time back. If I was to buy new I'd save a little extra and buy from someone like TVM or one of the other reputable makers. You'd get a much better gun for about the same money in my opinion.

squint

 

[tmdreb]

Oddly enough, I am in the opposite situation in that I have a 2nd Land Bess from Military Heritage and could use a French musket. Hmmmm...

Fascinating. That might require further exploration.

My Charleville is quite forgiving when it comes to throwing a spark. I am not the ablest of flintlock shooters, as I mainly use percussion. However, it puts up with my lack of experience in when and how to change out flints, and was at least as reliable as my compatriots at the first reenactment I went to where just about everyone else had a flintlock. It was also raining that whole weekend, too. More recently, I only got it to go off once in a local event, but after looking down at the flint, and realizing that it was completely flat on the part that should have been sharp, I really wondered how it managed that one time.