1763 Charleville Pistol

"Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania"
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  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol
  • 1763 Charleville Pistol

This is quite a  rare pistol.  Actually, I’ve never seen another one and would be interested in knowing if anyone else has.  The pistol is a French model 1763 Charlevile manufactured at the Mauberge arsenal in the year 1774 and is stamped 74 on the barrel. It has all it’s proper proof marks on the lock, barrel and sideplate.  What’s unique about this pistol is the "CP" branded in the forestock which denotes ownership by the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania".  As we all know these French arms were imported for use by the Continental Army .  So I did some research to see if I could find a connection between The Continental Army and the Commonwealth of Pennsylavania.  What I found was very informative.   In June of 1775 the Continental Congress voted to raise companies of riflemen.  Nine of these companies were in Pennsylvania and they became known as "Thompson’s Rifle Battalion". For a brief period they were known as "the Pennsylvania Rifle Regt."  When the army was reorganized in Jan.1776 the battalion was called "The first Continenal Regt." and following another reorganization in July of 1776 offically became known as "The First Pennsylvania Regt. of the Continetal Line". 
     While other units in Lexington and Concord were militia units, The Pennsylvania Battlalion enlisted directly to the Continental Congress and the officers of the battalion were the first commissioned by Congress. Therefore ,the battalion can be referred to as "the first army of the nation".  This is the link I was looking for that ties this pistol both to the U.S Continental army and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  This pistol would have been issued to an officer.  The First Pennsylvania went on to participate in many major battles under some notable leaders such as Benedict Arnold at "Quebec", Gen."Mad" Anthony Wayne and even the direct command of George Washington.   Some of their major battles were Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, Bergen Heights, Yorktown, Charlestown and the winter encampment at Valley Forge. 
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