Patterned after the French trade guns originally made in France, at the Tulle arsenal, or at Saint Etienne, the French fusil-de-chasse was a light weight gun-for-the-hunt. The stock architecture and iron trim resemble those of the heavier French military muskets, with a slender graceful appearance. In 1716 the Governor of New France requested “600 fusils de chasse from Tulle, because they are the best. The Natives know them and will not accept any others." By 1746 Tulle was unable to meet the demand for the fusil de chasse in the Canadian market, and similar muskets were being produced at St. Etienne. Many trade guns of this design would have been in service for decades by the time of the American Revolution.

Traditionally stocked in walnut, or fruit wood this fusil is stocked in curly maple. The book Colonial Frontier Guns by T.M. Hamilton illustrates a antique French Tulle musket restocked in curly maple. The assembled TVLLE marked flintlock, octagon-to-round barrel, and iron furniture are finished to a brown that has been rubbed back to a gray patina to give this smoothbore a well used appearance. Weighing in at 8 pounds the fusil has a trigger reach of 13-1/4" making it well suited for today's average size shooter.

The 20 gauge octagon-to-round barrel is 44" in length. The .620" bore is bright and clean. A silver blade steel base turtle front sight is soldered on the barrel. This barrel is also fitted with a rear sight, so it will not qualify for the N.M.L.R.A. Trade Gun Match The barrel has a gray brown patina finish that appears approprate with the finish on the furniture.

The sweeping architecture of the French fusil buttstock is quite comfortable to shoot. The wide flat buttplate is an advantage, since it reduces the felt recoil when firing full loads. Stocked in curly maple the stock has a few scattered handling marks. The buttstock is decorated with brass tacks in star burst design around a inlaid Cross of Lorraine. The wrist is fitted with a nickel silver oval inlay with engraved initials. The very bottom of the cross has lifted slightly as the wood as aged. The iron triggerguard is mounted with screws and pin. The rear sling swivel is mounted through the triggerguard boss. The forward swivel is positioned to rest against the middle ramrod pipe. A woven sling with leather ends is included. The wooden ramrod is finished with a steel ramrod tip that is threaded 10-32 for your loading and cleaning attachments. This smoothbore uses the simple flat military style sideplate common to the fusil-de-chasse, and French Marine fusils, made at Tulle, St. Etienne, Charleville, and Mauberg.

This flint lock is patterned from a antique Tulle fusil-de-chasse circa 1727. This lock uses the so-called “forged" plate design, with attached pan, but no pan bridle arm in early fashion. The frizzen pivots on an oversize shouldered screw. In French fashion the wax cast lock plate is shaped with a chamfered edge around the plate that terminates behind the flint cock. The lock plate is also marked with A. TVLLE in antique fashion. The marking has a slight curve, as found on antique muskets. We recommend a 7/8" gun flint to fit this medium size flint lock. Cocking the lock requires real effort, since the strong mainspring is tensioned to produce best sparks, and fast lock time. Trigger release is smooth, due to the high leverage, and excellent trigger geometry. A stainless steel vent liner is positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash.

This brass tack decorated French fusil, would make a fine addition to anyone's collection or 18th century impression. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.