MVTC French 1717 Musket

[Dave Markowitz]

I took the day off and drove up to Dixon's in Kempton, PA today, and came home with a new Middlesex Village Trading Company French 1717 Musket.

It came with a leather sling, hammer stall, flash guard, and bayonet (no scabbard).

Compared with the MVTC Long Land Pattern Brown Bess, this gun feels about a pound or two lighter and shoulders better for me. The stock shape is a bit odd but seems to fit me well. It balances nicely for a gun with a 46" barrel. I'm only 5'6" tall and the gun is almost as tall as me.

The lock sparks well. Overall workmanship isn't up to the standards of say, a Pedersoli, but I suspect that the originals weren't either.

Greg Dixon recommended using .662 balls with a patch, so I got the last two bags he had in this size, along with a couple of extra musket flints. MVTC recommends 65 - 75 grains of FFg powder.

Unfortunately I won't get to shoot it for a couple of weeks, but I'll post a report when I do.

 

[Duncaninfrance]

Hope it shoots like it looks Dave. Interested to see your results.
Duncan

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Ah, but the Pedersoli isn't a very close copy of either the Charleville or the Bess, AND you probably paid half the MSRP of the Pedersoli, eh?

LD

 

[Dave Markowitz]

LD,

I picked up the 1717 for $595 + PA's 6% sales tax. He had an MVTC Brown Bess for the same price, and a Pedersoli Bess for over $900.