Dutch M1815/41 - 75 Cal. Percussion

Mfg Date: 1836

S/N: 4441

History:

     The Dutch started altering their flintlock arms to percussion in 1841. The style of percussion alteration on this example is known as the "Belgian method". This manner of percussion alteration was observed by US Ordnance officials in Belgium in the 1840s, and the name was derived from their inspections. It is quite possible that this musket was actually percussion converted in Belgium since the Dutch did not have a robust arms manufacturing system of their own. Dutch muskets also show up with a cone seat style alteration as well, but in my experience the cone-in-barrel "Belgian" style is more prevalent. The style of rear sight on this musket is also typical for arms rifled in Belgium, though it is occasionally seen on French arms as well.

     Muskets from France and the low countries can be very hard to identify in ordnance returns and other period accounts due to the general similarity of most of the arms, especially infantry muskets. The Dutch M1815 was patterned after the Belgian M1777 and the French Year 9 Muskets. All three of those are generally similar to the French Mle1822 as well. All of them are 42 inch barreled nominally .70 caliber muskets. All are iron mounted, and originally smoothbore flintlock muskets.