Rare French Royal Guard Rifle with Bayonet (AL5376)

This excellent French percussion Royal Guard rifle is equipped with a knife blade socket bayonet. The 36.5" round 16.9mm caliber (approx. 66 caliber) barrel has an excellent rifled bore that is bright and shiny throughout. The barrel retains approx. 98% blue with wear at the muzzle from the bayonet. It is equipped with a bayonet stud at the 6 o'clock position, a small blade front sight, and a folding rear sight with a 200 meter sighing hole and a top 250 meter notch. In addition, the cone fence is notched for 150 meters. The octagonal breech area has circled B and C on the left with the right being dated 1840. MR is stamped on the side flat below the date with a shield inspection to the rear of that. The lock, hammer, and sideplate are bright. The lock is marked in script Manufacture Rle over de over Chatellerault. There is another shield inspection toward the top of the lock. The trigger and lower tang are blue. The trigger guard bow, bands, and buttplate are brass. They all have shield and W inspection stamps. The brass is excellent with a nicely aged patina. The stock is excellent with minor storage dents and dings and no cracks or chips. There is a small dent on the right top to the rear of the bottom band and the underside from the trigger guard tang to the buttplate has scattered storage dents and dings. The right side of the stock is numbered 183 above the buttplate. Forward of that is the round disc with M-R in the center and *C* 1839 *P* and MARS around the edge. Forward of this is a crown over B inspection stamp. The left side of the stock has the 183 repeated above the buttplate with a larger 782 above that with a script R inspection stamp at the top.  The wrist behind the barrel tang is stamped with the crown over B. The sling swivels and ramrod  are present. The action functions correctly. The bayonet is very sturdy. The overall length is approx. 23". The 2 5/8" socket, numbered 58, has a spring catch. The shank is inspected on each side and the 20.5" blade has a series of inspection marks on the left rear. We doubt there is a better example of this rare Royal Guard rifle anywhere. Don't miss this museum grade piece!