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The lock-plate is marked with an “R” inside a shield proof, “Mre Impale / de St Etienne”. The right side of the hammer is marked with a small oval marked “* / G” proof mark. The top-tang is marked “Mle 1822 T / bis”. There is a faded proof mark on the back-strap. There is a proof on the grip-cap. There are two proofs on the bottom tang. There is a proof at the front of the trigger guard. The right side of the breech has a faded date of manufacture “1855”. The left side of the breech is marked “CDE 17-6N / A” (the “A” indicates the barrel is reamed), “M” inside an oval and “E” inside an oval all above the serial number “316”. The nose-cap and side-plate are both marked with a oval marked “P” proof and diamond marked “G” proof. The ramrod is marked “316” and has a “G” marked proof. The left side of the forend is marked “316” and has some faded cartouches and stock markings. The lower right portion of the grip is marked “E”.
Barrel length is approximately 8”.
Overall, the stock is in Very Good condition for an Antique. The bottom left portion of the forend has a light crack that originates at the nose-cap, there is a light crack which extends from the rear screw on the side-plate and extends to the breech, there is a crack which circumvents the lower portion of the grip that appears to be indicative of a patch repair that extends through the bottom tang and a small patch repair where the grip meets the cap on the right side. Also, there is a light crack on the right side of the grip above the aforementioned and a light ding at the rear end of the lock-plate.
The bore is grey, has poorly defined rifling and scattered light-moderate patches of erosion.
The majority of the brass finish is tarnished, coated in light handling marks and has some scattered patches of light surface oxidation. The bright parts are still semi-bright but they have scattered patches of light surface oxidation and some light handling marks. Notably, there is some light pitting around the borders of the lock-plate, some light pitting around the nipple and some light wear around the muzzle. Some of the markings have faded, but most remain discernable. The screwheads are only lightly tooled and remain serviceable. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition for an Antique.
The half-cock safety does not properly engage, otherwise the action functions correctly.
The French Model 1822 was one of the final flint-lock ignition system handguns to be introduced for service in the French military. In the 1840s the French began to manufacture guns with the percussion ignition system. A number of older flint-locks were converted to the more efficient system, among them the recently manufactured Model 1822s.
This particular Model 1822 T Bis was a newly constructed pistol, it is not one of the converted specimens. Its date of manufacture, 1855, precludes it having had the flintlock ignition system.