Russian Infantry Musket model 1845

[Voltigeur_de_la_Garde]

After conversion of flintlock muskets to percussion had begun one year earlier, the model of 1845 was the first purpose-built percussion firearm adopted by the Imperial Russian army. It was essentially a copy of the french musket mle.1842 with brass fittings.
Curiously, with the conversion of the old flintlocks to percussion their barrels were bored out, from .70 to .71 cal.
Apparently, I have found no official sources confirming this, because the old barrels were in a terrible state and instead of replacing them, the rusty and pitted barrels were simply bored out. This might explain why Russian muskets in Crimea had an uncanny tendency to blow up. But I digress.

The new muskets were built from the outset with .71 cal. barrels.
According to V.E. Markevic's "Handbook of Ammunition and Weapons" the musket fired a .625 round ball over a 138 grain powdercharge. It weighs 4,15kg without and 4,6kg with the bayonet.

Tsar Nicolas I. and his son Alexander personally participated in the trials of the new musket.
They each fired 30 rounds after wich the Tsar announced that: "While shooting, both of us have noticed neither strong recoil nor a tiring of the shoulder."

Test shooting with trained soldiers at targets 1 Arshin 14 Wershoks (4.36 feet) wide and 2 Arshins 12 Wershoks (6.39 feet) high have shown the following hit rates:

At 150 paces: 60%
At 200 paces: 50%
At 250 paces: 40%
At 300 paces: 30%

My Musket was built in 1849 as clearly marked on the lock plate. The letters above the year stand for
"mу́льский оруже́йный заво́д" or "Tula Arms Factory".

 

[cyten]

Wow what a great piece! Love the Russian guns but they are so hard to come by

 

[Voltigeur_de_la_Garde]

Wow what a great piece! Love the Russian guns but they are so hard to come by

Yes sadly only few of them survived the smelters during the world wars. Those that are still around are often trophies, taken home by British and French soldiers after the Crimean War.

 

[Laurent Devaux]

Nice musket ! I have a rifled 1845/53 musket made in Izhevsk in 1854, found complete but in a very poor condition (but I restored it) something like 25 years ago on a flea market in Paris for a very fair price. Given the fact that old russian weapons are really hard to find and the place I discovered it, I think it's probably a rifle brought back by some french veteran from Crimea. I'd be glad to present it if you find it interesting !

 

[Rudyard]

After conversion of flintlock muskets to percussion had begun one year earlier, the model of 1845 was the first purpose-built percussion firearm adopted by the Imperial Russian army. It was essentially a copy of the french musket mle.1842 with brass fittings.
Curiously, with the conversion of the old flintlocks to percussion their barrels were bored out, from .70 to .71 cal.
Apparently, I have found no official sources confirming this, because the old barrels were in a terrible state and instead of replacing them, the rusty and pitted barrels were simply bored out. This might explain why Russian muskets in Crimea had an uncanny tendency to blow up. But I digress.

The new muskets were built from the outset with .71 cal. barrels.
According to V.E. Markevic's "Handbook of Ammunition and Weapons" the musket fired a .625 round ball over a 138 grain powdercharge. It weighs 4,15kg without and 4,6kg with the bayonet.

Tsar Nicolas I. and his son Alexander personally participated in the trials of the new musket.
They each fired 30 rounds after wich the Tsar announced that: "While shooting, both of us have noticed neither strong recoil nor a tiring of the shoulder."

Test shooting with trained soldiers at targets 1 Arshin 14 Wershoks (4.36 feet) wide and 2 Arshins 12 Wershoks (6.39 feet) high have shown the following hit rates:

At 150 paces: 60%
At 200 paces: 50%
At 250 paces: 40%
At 300 paces: 30%

My Musket was built in 1849 as clearly marked on the lock plate. The letters above the year stand for
"mу́льский оруже́йный заво́д" or "Tula Arms Factory".

Some turn up in the UK as trophies of the Crimean War if only noted converted ones '
Rudyard

 

[Laurent Devaux]

Some turn up in the UK as trophies of the Crimean War if only noted converted ones '
Rudyard

Not only in the UK... France was also highly involved in this conflict. And that's why I think it's the reason why I found my own Russian 1845 musket on a flea market in Paris. I'll introduce it later, when I understand how to do it properly...

 

[Laurent Devaux]

Some turn up in the UK as trophies of the Crimean War if only noted converted ones '
Rudyard

Not only in the UK... France was also highly involved in this conflict. And that's why I think it's the reason why I found my own Russian 1845 musket on a flea market in Paris. I'll introduce it later, when I understand how to do it properly...

 

[Voltigeur_de_la_Garde]

Not only in the UK... France was also highly involved in this conflict. And that's why I think it's the reason why I found my own Russian 1845 musket on a flea market in Paris. I'll introduce it later, when I understand how to do it properly...

Wow what a beauty! I had read that some of these Muskets were rifled but I have never seen one outside of drawings, and in such nice condition! Congrats on your find.

 

[wiscoaster]

Interesting. Not something you hear so much about around here. Thanks for posting.

 

[Laurent Devaux]

Wow what a beauty! I had read that some of these Muskets were rifled but I have never seen one outside of drawings, and in such nice condition! Congrats on your find.

Thanks for your compliments ! In fact, the 1845 musket got a rifled version in 1853, hence the date of mine. I understand why you only saw one on drawings, as it seems few were made. Well, that's what I guess, as since I bought it, I never saw another one. Some "pure" 1845 like yours (beautiful too), I did see a handful on British websites, but a 1845/53, never. And here in France, even less. To tell how rare it is, until now I still didn't find its bayonet... I'll post more pics when the website will allow me and explain how I restored it.