16059 - Continental Line Standing Firing No. 2 1777-87

Continental Line/1st American Regiment Standing Firing, 1777-87, No.2

During the American War of Independence the French government supplied large quantities of muskets to the Continental Army. While several French arsenals produced muskets, the armory in Charleville-Mézières, Ardennes, France produced the most, and soon all French muskets were referred to as “Charlevilles.” The Modèle 1777, was the most popular and a total of 7 million pieces were produced, more than any other weapon before World War I. The Charleville 1777 musket was copied and made in Austria, Belgium, and Prussia. To reduce theft, George Washington put forth a resolution to stamp firearms as United States property.