The M1766 French Pattern (sometimes referred to as a “Light Model 1763”) is a .69 caliber, smoothbore, flintlock musket. It is commonly referred to as the Charleville musket, named such after the armory in Charleville-Mezieres, Ardennes, France. It measures about 60 inches long and weighs about 10 pounds with a production volume of about 140,000 units. After trying a heavier design for the M1763, the M1766 became lighter with a thinned barrel and other adjusted parts.
The colonial soldiers used both M1763 and M1766 Charleville muskets during the Revolutionary war. About 25,000 in total made their way from France to America. The French soldiers used both the M1766 and the latest M1777 Charleville while fighting to support the fight for independence. For more details, click here.
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