Page 53 - Auction84-Book2
P. 53

     been made by the Saint Etienne manufactories under direct contact with the Navy Ministry, or they may have been among those that Tulle manufacturer
Martial Fenis de la Comb obtained in Saint Etienne for supply under his navy contracts. It is more likely, however, that they were made at Saint Etienne und contract with the French Compagnie des Indes [French India Company] for commercial sale.” The picture caption on page 299 states, “This Saint Etienne musket was originally similar to the 1696 contract grenadier musket configuration. It was stocked to the muzzle and had a single barrel band, three ramrod thimbles, and a tapered wood ramrod. It probably was equipped with upper and lower bands and modified to accept an angular socket bayonet and a steel ramrod sometime
LOT 1086
Very Scarce Documented Seven Years’ War Era Altered French Saint Etienne Brass Mounted
Flintlock Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 69 cal., 47 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This is a very early
example of a French Saint Etienne musket originally manufactured in the late 1690s and arsenal updated with brass mountings during the Seven Years’ War era (1756-1763). These brass mounted Saint Etienne muskets are described on pages 299-302 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I” with this exact musket pictured from various angles and three of the pages. Page 299 states, “There are, in American collections, a very few muskets made at Saint Etienne that, because of their brass mountings, have been attributed to early French naval contracts. These muskets may have
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS VOL. I BY MOLLER
  er
 in the 1750s.” The picture caption second from the bottom on page 301 states, “This early musket’s lower swivel differs from those of later arms in that it is riveted to a ring around a bolt in the stock’s left breech flat. The butt
plate tang has a modified fleur-de-lis profile.” It has an iron ramrod, bayonet stud on top of the barrel, “crown/V” marked on the left quarter of the breech, faint remnants of the Saint Etienne marking at the center of the early lock, and inspection initials marked on the side plate and inside the lock. “EE” ahead of an inverted “LE” carved into the right of the buttstock. Small “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a reproduction socket bayonet, later replacement leather sling, and a chipped piece of wood originally forming a part of the forward area of the lock.
CONDITION: Good, exhibiting brown patina overall with scattered light pitting and mild flash pitting. Stock is also good, with scattered scratches, dents, numerous cracks, moderate and mild chips, and an otherwise attractive figure overall considering its age. Mechanically fine with a very strong mainspring. Early French muskets such as this one are very rarely seen in any condition today. This fantastic example of an early French musket would make an excellent addition to any advanced early martial or Pre-Revolutionary War era collection!
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
  LOT 1087
Very Scarce Seven Years’ War Era French Saint Etienne Model 1746/54 Flintlock Musket - NSN, 69 cal., 47 inch round bbl., bright
finish, walnut stock. This is an early example of a French Saint Etienne musket originally manufactured as a Model 1746 and was subsequently arsenal updated to the Model 1754 configuration during the
Seven Years’ War era (1756-1763). Model 1746 and Model 1754 infantry muskets are described on pages 323-330 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume I” in which salient features of
each are noted. This example has sling swivels relocated to the underside of the middle band and ahead of the trigger guard in the Model 1754 configuration, whereas the Model 1746 before it that had left side mounted sling swivels. It is fitted with its original Model 1746 lock and does not have an external bridle to the support the head of the frizzen screw unlike the Model 1754 locks. It has an iron ramrod and bayonet stud on top of the barrel towards the muzzle. “crown/S•E/B” Saint Etienne marked above “CARRIER/MONTIER” at the center of the lock, and “TEUENON” marked on the inside of the lock. Small “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a reproduction leather sling.
CONDITION: Good with scattered light pitting and wear on the metal surfaces. Stock is also good as sanded and re-oiled with scattered light scratches and dents, some mild chips on either end of the lock, a hole below the side plate, a deep scratch to the right of the barrel tang running to behind the lock, and a mild chipped area at the toe. Mechanically fine. Early French muskets such as this one are very rarely seen in any condition today. This fantastic example of an early French musket would make an excellent addition to any advanced early martial or Pre-Revolutionary War era collection!
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
51
      












































































   51   52   53   54   55