Fusil de Chasse
Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle · Rifle · Discontinued · 1729
Also known as: French Fur Trade Musket, Tulle Fusil, Hunting Musket
Overview
The Fusil de Chasse is a light smoothbore flintlock musket produced at the Tulle armory in France from the early 18th century. Designed as a hunting piece, its .62 caliber (20 gauge) smoothbore barrel could fire a round ball or shot, and it became the dominant trade gun supplied to France's Native American allies across New France. It is recognized by its slender lines, octagon-to-round barrel, brass furniture, and the distinctive drooping 'cow's foot' (pied de vache) buttstock that softened recoil.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3200 g (112.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1524 mm (60.00") |
| Barrel Length | 1118 mm (44.02") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Flintlock |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Muzzle Velocity | 305 m/s (1001 fps) |
| Effective Range | 55 m (60 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 3 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Browned Steel |
Calibers
- .62 Caliber Musket Ball · primary — also known as 0.62 in, 20 gauge ball, 15.7 mm ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Features: Smoothbore Barrel, Muzzle Loaded, Octagon To Round Barrel, Cow Foot Buttstock, Brass Furniture, Ramrod
Variants
- Fusil de Traite - Trade Gun
- Fusil Fin - Presentation Grade
Service history
Operators
- Kingdom of France · adopted 1729
- Native American allies of New France
Conflicts
- French and Indian War (1754-1763)
- American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Production
Production years: 1729-1850
Made in large numbers at Tulle, with Saint-Etienne supplying overflow demand for the North American fur trade
Origin
Country of origin: France
Discontinued: 1850
Notes
Barrels typically ran 44 to 47 inches; the officer's model was shorter (about 54 inches) and lighter at roughly 3.2 kg. A .62 caliber ball from a French fusil is credited with mortally wounding General Edward Braddock at the 1755 Battle of the Monongahela.
Background
Native warriors took great care of their muskets and strongly preferred the French fusils over guns made elsewhere; even when the cheaper fusil de traite was offered, many buyers insisted on the better-finished fusil de chasse.