Mystery musket.

[Anzac15]

Title says it all. Found this today for $100. I THINK it was originally a French musket of some sort. This is not my area of expertise, just found it very interesting. Thoughts VERY welcome!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Is it a trade gun? The sort of thing Hudson Bay would have stocked...? Looks to have been cut down and cobbled a bit.

[Anzac15]

Honestly don't think it's a trade gun. Has this 'C' shaped marking on all metal parts, but its not a C.
I really don't know what this is. I thought Austrian at first, then French. But it just caught my eye. Had to have it.

[gew8805]

Austrian, not French. Can't remember off the top of my head which model but it is late 18th or early 19th Century. Sorry, wish I could recall more specifically. What is the barrel length and caliber? It appears to be shorter than a full musket so it may be a Dragoon Carbine.

[Anzac15]

Gew, what stands out as Austrian to you? It had an Austrian air to it, so that's why I initially thought it was. I'll do some measurements when I get a chance. Thanks!

[gew8805]

Gew, what stands out as Austrian to you? It had an Austrian air to it, so that's why I initially thought it was. I'll do some measurements when I get a chance. Thanks!

The stock shape, the lock, the furniture (bands and triggerguard) and, in particular the percussion conversion are all Austro-Hungarian in form and not at all French.

[gsimmons]

The trigger guard and side lock plate stand out to me as Austrian.

---------- Post added at 10:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:20 PM ----------

The type of wood used as well

[Anzac15]

Actually found a photo online of a firearm that was described as a French cavalry musket. Almost the exact firearm as mine, except that it was a flintlock.

[Anzac15]

If you look at the last photo of the marking on the trigger guard, that 'symbol' next to the 6 or the 9 is on all metal parts. Buttplate, front and rear barrel band, etc. No idea what it is.

[Patrick Chadwick]

It was, originally, a full length musket. Since the Austrians basically copied the French pattern, I cannot be sure which at this distance. The French, in particular, converted large number of flintlock to percussion - google "1822T" and "1822T bis" for plenty of examples. Many were also converted for police use, and as in all imperial systems, sent off to the colonies as 2nd-rate weapons.

Many flintlocks, especially after being sold out of service, were also privately converted and used as shotguns. As a musket is far too long to use in the field, they were usually cut down.

Being fortunate enough to have a book on the 1822 family, I am sure that this is NOT a military alteration - which was done on an arsenal basis and therefore looks professional - but, judging by the rough appearance of the bolster, a local private conversion of an old musket.

These things are plentiful over here, and of course the sellers often try to talk them up as "cavalry carbines". That sounds better than "John Doe's home-brew shotgun".

Which IMHO is what it is.