Carbine. The stock is possibly made of walnut with a brass butt cap, brass fore-end and brass trigger guard. Fitted with brass ramrod pipe with steel ramrod and two sling swivels. The lock is a sidelock percussion. The barrel is of circular external section, rifled with four grooves and fitted with barleycorn foresight and ramp rearsight graduated from 500-110 metres. The calibre is 0.674in. Inscribed on the butt is 'MA 1391 [Museum of Artillery] 8 over 71' and on the barrel 'G' (in a circle). Also inscribed on the tang is 'M' (in a circle). The Museum of Artillery catalogue identifies this as an Italian carbine, but it is likely that it was made specifically for the French in the Franco Prussian War as it is the correct calibre for the French muzzle loading military cartridge.