Original Item: Only One Available. This is an interesting Belgian Percussion rifled musket, which as far as we can tell was converted from a BREECH LOADING Albini-Braendlin rifle. The markings, the style, and the shape all match. We assume that this was a cadet or more likely colonial issue rifled musket, which would serve to limit the possibilities should it be captured by the native population. We can see wooden shims around the breech plug area, filling up the extra space that the breech loading mechanism once occupied.

It features a back action lock, and has all iron mountings. There are not much in the way of markings on the metalwork, except for the “Tower of Liège” marking on the barrel and breech plug. This city became a gunmaking powerhouse in the 19th century, and still produces significant arms to this day.

The right side of the butt stock has a very clear Belgian cartouche:

F. DG. | J. D.
(CROWN)
L
1867.

The date means that the cartouche would be for Leopold II of Belgium, today known mostly for his Administration of the Congo Free State. This is the exact marking that we have seen on “crisp” examples of original Belgian Albini-Braendlin rifles. This example must have seen little to no use as a breech