A Chasseur percussion carbine with 'a tige' system

dating: Mid 19th Century provenance: France, Rifled, round 17,8 mm cal. barrel, provided with clutch for the bayonet, foresight, adjustable and folding rear sight, dated '1851' and with 'VL' mark surmounted by a fleur-de-lis, some pitting and remains of other marks. The inner side with signs of use, groove still well defined. Backward spring lock marked 'LOUIS MALHERBE A LIEGE' and with 'VL' mark surmounted by a fleur-de-lis coeval to the barrel. Working mechanics. Long, wooden stock with remains of Liege stamp on the butt side, the 'VL' stamp is repeated several times under the fleur-de-lis. Iron mounts; Barrel bracket, muzzle ring and ramrod probably replaced. It preserves the rare 'a tige' system inside the breech. This type of rifle was initially equipped with the 'a tige' system invented by M. Thouvenin and applied to rifled weapons from 1846 onwards. As early as 1859-1860, most of the weapons equipped with this system were converted by removing it. This is a rare example that survived the conversion. See 'Armes a Feu Francaises Modeles Reglementaires' by J. Boudriot, chapter 'LES ARMES A TIGE'. length 121 cm.