Discussion Belgian Musketoon

[RangersFC]

Hi All. First post. I recently purchased a Belgian Musketoon of which I know nothing about. Any info would be much appreciated.

 

[UCVRelics]

Interesting piece, Lets see what our Belgian expert has to say. paging @johan_steele

 

[johan_steele]

Uhhh... I hate to say it but I think she's a frankenmusket. The trigger guard is wrong and the buttplate and barrel stamps are spurious at best.

can you post overall length, approx barrel length, a pic of the barrel bands, ramrod and bore size? I have an idea what she might have started life as but...

 

[RangersFC]

Uhhh... I hate to say it but I think she's a frankenmusket. The trigger guard is wrong and the buttplate and barrel stamps are spurious at best.

can you post overall length, approx barrel length, a pic of the barrel bands, ramrod and bore size? I have an idea what she might have started life as but...

Not sure on the bore size but the barrel length is 30 inches and ramrod and barrel bands pics below.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

As Mr. Steele said, the CS markings are recent additions made with modern style stamps to make this musket look more interesting. It does look French or a Belgian copy of a French arm.

 

[tbuckley]

I might be wrong, but the trigger guard looks Austrian possibly from an M1849 "Garibaldi".

 

[DixieRifles]

the CS markings are recent additions made with modern style stamps to make this musket look more interesting.

I saw that right away. I'm no expert but I was trying to identify a French rifle that was stamped twice with "CS" and everyone said that was not authentic.

 

[johan_steele]

This is not a Belgian or French manufactured arm for the military. The stepped breech is something I've only seen on civilian shotguns.
The screws are wrong as are the barrel bands for either a French or Belgian military arm. It's missing the nose cap/ top barrel band. The trigger guard doesn't match the rest of her. The lock... I had thought she might be from one of the German states but I can't find anything that matches. My suspicion is she's either a centennial frankengun or possible something put together for the African trade. I'm inclined to think she started life as a single barrel shotgun that someone decided to modify to play with during the Centennial.

regardless she's an interesting piece.

 

[Old Soldier]

The lion and shield is the makers mark - Renkin & Fils, Liege - a Belgian lock with an Austrian-style trigger guard but with what looks like an over-bore barrel - the top of the tang is usually in line with the top of the barrel. It is not a standard Belgian model and may well be for the African trade as already mentioned, as that tang/barrel configuration would never pass muster in Europe or the USA! Does it have any proof marks on the barrel or tang?

 

[tankredi]

The hammer is of Piedmont origin.

 

[Grayrock Volunteer]

The gun is an assemblage of castoff surplus military rifles likely put together after 1900. It is a good example of a late African trade gun, but is in no way a Civil war piece.