Flintlock Experts

torizus

March 28, 2012 18:05

I'm trying to determine a value on this flintlock for a friend, I hae not a clue other than what he describes below, any experts out there that can ballpark it?

The flintlock is from the Charleville armory in France. A "D" with what looks like a crown are stamped on the bottom of trigger guard, the brass on left side, brass on bottom of the butt, and the bottom of the brass ring which circles wood & barrel. The barrel is 8" long. Fancy scroll engraved on right side. I can't make out the writing; maybe Mount something or other .Also has circular stamp on left side of wood.

[url][/url]http://s459.photobucket.com/albums/qq318/torizus/

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  rufe-snow

  March 28, 2012 18:52

  Looks like a French Model IX. After the French revolution of the early 1790's, they started a new dating system using Roman Numerals. I believe IX would translate to the late 1790's or very early 1800's. There should be more information visible on the lockplate.
  
  I gave you the wrong skinny in the above. It's a model, "AN XIII CAVALRY PISTOL"
  
  Unfortunately it looks to be in pretty rough condition. Don't see it worth a lot of money on this side of the pond in the condition it's in. If you could locate a antique gun dealer with contacts in France, it would probably be worth more over their then in the States.

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  rhmc24

  March 30, 2012 02:49

  Rufe is right about it being AN XIII Cavalry, (13th year after the French Revolution) ca 1805. I looked it up in the book (in French) ARMES DE POING MILITAIRES FRANCAISES, by R.E. Brooker a monumental work on its subject. (POING = fist In English, otherwise 'handgun'). The circle in the wood above the trigger in the picture, if clear enough would ID its exact year, inspector, etc. Some 300,000 were made 1806-1818 in various locations.
  
  While it does lack a lot in desired collector condition it appears to be in original survivor condition ther than replaced top jow screw -- without attempts to clean or 'restore' it. Please do nothing more than oil its iron parts. Think in terms of $500 value, or more.
  
  If you decide to have it restored, be sure it is done by a specialist in flintlock period pieces. Modern restorers and gunsmiths think in terms of refinishing and making look like new --- which would reduce appeal to a collector of French military.

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  torizus

  March 30, 2012 17:02

  I thank you all for the info and will pass it along. It has been interesting to followup as all of my research involved relatively modern firearms. Was really lost on this one until now.
  Thanks again.

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