~ c1740-42 King’s Louis XV of France Double Flintlock Sporting Musket ~
This sporting double barrel flintlock musket was manufactured by Jean Baptiste La Roche, Archebusier du Roi, for Louis XV of France.
La Roche’s official residence was at Louvre Palace and he was recognised at the time as the best firearms manufacturer of France.
Between 1740 and 1742 he was the head of Paris Gunmaker’s Guild and his official residence to Louvre was granted in 1743.
His firearms were either used by the King or offered as official gifts to foreign dignitaries or members of the royal family.
Other firearms by La Roche and his son Jean can be found in the private collections of King Charles X of France and King Georce III of Great Britain.
The 20 bore musket is highly decorated with gold floral inlays, as seen in the pictures.
The barrels are blued and the section between them is engraved in gold with the manufacturer’s name.
The area around the front sight of the musket is also decorated with gold floral inlays.
The lockplates and the steel but of the musket are decorated with gold coat of arms of the royal family.
An exquisite silver cartouche is decorating the top of the highly carved wooden grip.
The buttplate is engraved ‘JL St C’ standing probably from ‘St Claude Abbey’, patronage of the Bourbon family through Louis de Burbon-Conde, Count of Clermont Abbot and abbot of Saint-Claude (7 May 1718). The musket may’ve been offered as a royal gift for the abbey at one point in time.
The musket’s steel buttplate continues on the top of the wooden stock but with a gold inlaid tongue with a flame shaped finial.
A similar pattern is used on its floral inlaid trigger guard on both ends.
~ Condition ~
The musket is excellent with minimum age wear.
There is some slight oxidisation on top of the barrels.
The wooden stock is slightly loose towards the muzzles but its overall condition is excellent.
The musket’s hammers half cock, cock and release.
~ Dimensions ~
The barrels length is 41.14 inches (104.5 cm) and the overall length of the musket is 57.48 inches (146 cm).
It weighs 3.1 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The musket is excellent with minimum age wear.
There is some slight oxidisation on top of the barrels.
The wooden stock is slightly loose towards the muzzles but its overall condition is excellent.
The musket’s hammers half cock, cock and release.
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