This is a French model 1766 musket with the 1770-71 modification which consisted in the addition of a ramrod friction spring inside the lower barrel band which is held by a flat head screw which is now missing.  In late 1776  early 1777 the French sent  what they considered old and obsolete muskets to America. Gen. George Washington issued an order they all be marked as United States property.  Originally this was done in the field with branding irons made by local blacksmiths. The earliest being UNITED STATES and U.STATES . The U.S on the lock and barrel was done at a later date when the musket ended up in the Armory for refurbishing. The U. STATES on this musket is branded in the stock in front of the trigger guard and is well worn but still discernable .This is one of the nicest one of these I’ve ever owned. The stock is all there with no spliced or replaced wood.  The barrel and lock have taken on a wonderful untouched patina. The 44 3/4″ .69 cal. barrel still retains it’s year of manufacture at the breech D72? I’m just not sure of the 2. The lock action is still very good with a strong spring.  I believe this musket went home with the soldier who carried it.  My reason for this assumption is that the musket never ended up in the arsenal for refurbishing at the end of the War (absence of US on the lock and barrel} .  A true Continental soldier carried musket from the American Revolution! 

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