Live stream preview

Watch this video and more on History of Weapons & War

Watch this video and more on History of Weapons & War

Start your free trial

Already subscribed? Sign in

The bonkers French spring lock musket designed to equip revolutionaries

France • 12m

Up Next in France

  • Old pistols, modern grips: The Viallo...

    This week's obscure firearm stems from the French city of Marseille in the mid-19th century. Made by the Viallon family, these weapons catch the eye as a result of their modern looking grip. Jonathan Ferguson explains why they look so different compared to other percussion pistols at the time.

  • A smoothbore rifle? The French 1853/6...

    While French military planners debated which pattern of rifling they wanted to adopt in the mid-19th century, they released the 1853/67 Tabatière as a smooth bore, percussion cap weapon with the intention of adding in the rifling at a later date.

  • The pocket-sized French palm pistol: ...

    Designed to keep you safe from Victorian pick-pockets, Jacques Edmond Turbiaux's 'Le Protector' offered portability while still packing a punch.