The French began delivering sizeable caches of arms to the American rebels in 1777 and increased the supply further when they officially entered to conflict in 1778. These Model 1766 muskets are sometimes referred to as "light Model 1763s" in period sources because they were a revised version of the heavier 1763 pattern. Marquis de Lafayette is said to have personally delivered 25,000 Charleville muskets to General George Washington. The 1766 Charleville was so influential that the first several patterns of muskets produced by American armories after the war were basically copies of the French pattern. This example follows the 1766 pattern and has a bayonet lug, blade front sight on the rear of the front barrel band, removable iron flash pan, 6 1/4 inch long lock with "US" marked at the tail and faint "Charleville" marking at center. Other features include long trigger guard tangs, smooth stock, and button headed iron ramrod. The right side of buttstock is marked "EF" and "IN". The overall length is 59 1/2 inches. There are some small inspection type markings on the stock and some other components including "US/x/V" on the left stock flat. The included socket bayonet has a 15 inch blade. "2630" has been hand marked on the inside of the lock, bottom of the mainspring, and underside of the barrel.

Fair. Nearly all of the visible iron surfaces display moderate to deep pitting overall. The barrel has a dark gray patina, and the other components have dark brown patina. The buttplate has a seam visible on the underside and a crack near the heel. The stock is fine as refinished and has some material absent near the muzzle, a few small hairline cracks, various dings and marks, and a splotch of bright red paint on the right side of the butt. The lock is functional. The bayonet is in slightly better condition than the other metal components.