1768 Charleville

[rescuerandy2]

Good Evening All. From my previous posts you can see I was in the hunt for a Charleville. Yesterday, I got my new, antique "68 Charleville to the range with great success and much smoke. It was amazing to be firing a weapon that has a very high probability of having been in the Revolution.

In 1968 we were on our annual summer trip to Upstate NY and visited Fort Ticonderoga. I saw a Charleville being fired and have been waiting 48 years to fire my own. Wish this could have been done when my dad was with us as he to was in awe of seeing that weapon fired at such a historic place. Randy

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[CINDERS]

Thats one heck of a lonnnng sighting radius......

[jmoore]

Have yet to see a shootable example to take home! Very nice.

[AZPhil]

Now that is a great looking smoking pole!!!!
Congrats on finding your dream piece.

Semper Fi
Phil

[rescuerandy2]

Thanks AZPhil. Getting ready to take her out this coming Saturday to try shooting at combat ranges. Will try her at 50 yards and see if I can hit the paper at 75 yards. Getting lead on paper is great, but the smoke is probably the best part. Randy

[rescuerandy2]

Good Evening. In 1968, I asked my mom if i could take home one of the Charlevilles at Fort Ticonderoga. To keep me quiet, she bought me this can and i have been looking at that Continental soldier performing the Manual of Arms for 48 years. It has kept the dream of owning the Charleville alive for all these years till the '68 came in last month. Thanks mom.

In the last week or so, I just got this image in my head of me and my Charleville performing Von Steuben's Manual of Arms in a period uniform. Now I just have to find me some Redcoats. Randy

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[henry r]

if you haven't already seen it, i recommend taking a look at "britishmuzzleloaders" youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/britishmuzzleloaders

he gets out there in full period dress and runs musketry drills etc with a wide variety of british firearms, plus experiments with various period techniques. all videoed, edited, then presented with excellent dialogue and often period documentation.

[Bob Womack]

Two notes:

1. A formation of soldiers of the period was arrayed as to be an overwhelming psychological presence. They would advance with drums thundering, steps thundering, holding their muskets upright at shoulder arms ("Shoulder Firelock") with gleaming bayonets mounted at the top. In that position the soldier and his weapon reached about seven feet in height. Imagine a seven-foot high bristling thicket of gleaming bayonets swaying with every marching step, each one representing at best a quick death from a pierced heart and at worst a slow death from sepsis. No man wanted to die; few wanted to die of musket fire; fewer still wanted to die from the bayonet.

The Charleville was the American Colonies' tool adopted to oppose the British Brown Bess musket, a volley-fire weapon.

Good score!

2. For those of you unable to afford a musket and who either live in the area or considering a visit Colonial Williamsburg, VA, the historical Colonial Capital of the Colonies, has just opened a new attraction that offers you the ability to fire muskets. The cost is $119 including ammunition, targets, safety equipment, etc.

More HERE.




Bob

[rescuerandy2]

Thanks for the video and information on Williamsburg. I remember seeing the gunsmiths working up Pennsylvania Long Rifles as a kid and it was 3-year wait in 1969. Cannot imagine what it must be now. Parents had a friend who got one and it hung over the mantle on his fireplace. Dad had to explain why it had not bayonet.

Would love to hang my Charleville over the mantle of a fireplace. Not doable here in Miami. Randy

[rescuerandy2]

Good Afternoon. Got the '68 to combat range (50 yards) and did get lead on the paper. Still shooting low but that is more an issue with me than the Charleville. Thanks again to those who helped get this old warhorse back to making smoke. Next month will give 75 yards a GO with a few prayers. Randy

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