Rating and value of Empire rifles, model 1777, infantry

If you own a 1st Empire rifle, and would like to know its value, and if you don't know, the period and model of your weapon, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on today's market. Thereafter, if you wish to sell your work, we will guide you towards the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.  

Rating and value of Ier Empire rifles   

Ier Empire rifles are sought-after items by collectors. However, price differences can be considerable, depending on order, state of preservation, who owned it, and other criteria. Nowadays, prices for these objects can rise considerably under the auctioneer's hammer. Buyers from all over the world are interested in the sale of certain rare pieces. The price at which they are sold on the art market ranges from €50 to €7,470, at the moment - a substantial difference, but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to these weapons. In 2022, an imperial rifle of the corrected 1777 model made by the Manufacture Impériale de Versailles, dating from 1811 with bronze fittings, sold for €7,470 while it was estimated at between €1,000 and €1,200.

Order of value from simple to most prestigious

Retour sur l'histoire du fusil français  

In the 16th century, the spinning wheel mechanism appeared in Europe, after the wick mechanism. Spinning-wheel weapons are the oldest. Soldiers soon discovered that they had major drawbacks. At the beginning of the 19th century, during the Empire, these weapons were therefore mostly decorative, and the spinning-wheel pistols of the 1st Empire were owned by high-ranking officials as a symbol.

The Empire largely developed the flintlock system, which had been introduced under the Ancien Régime, just before the revolutionary period, but was still little used.

In the 17th century, spinning-wheel harquebuses dominated the weapons market and were the best-selling. In the eighteenth century, they were still sold, however wick muskets developed more  they are less heavy and shoot further than arquebuses, but they are ultimately the same mechanism, only the size changes between musket and arquebus.

The rifle will really acquire its name thanks to the flintlock patina and the infantry model 1717, which is the first regulation rifle.

Gribeauval will make modifications to it in order to perfect it.

The 1777 infantry model, rifle of the Empire wars

Gribeauval, an artilleryman, developed the 1777 rifle, the culmination of the flintlock patina. The Grande Armée fought all the wars of the Empire with these weapons. It's a single-shot, smooth-bore rifle (no grooves inside the barrel), measuring 1.52 meters, and almost two when a bayonet is added.

Brass is no longer the default component used, and copper is chosen for the bassinet, which is therefore less susceptible to corrosion. The rifle is highly resistant and can fire up to 25,000 rounds.

This is the first weapon produced in a standardized way. This greatly facilitated repairs, and the rifle's parts were also standardized, improving the work of the manufacturers. Production of the 1777 rifle was not yet industrialized, and had to wait for the Chassepot model of 1866. However, the 1777 infantry model remains a very important weapon in the French Army. It reached its peak during the First Empire, but remained in military use during the Franco-Prussian conflict, complementing other assault weapons. 

Reasons to sell a 1777 infantry rifle at auction  

If you own an Empire weapon, and don't know how to sell it, auctions are one solution. Indeed, collectors use this medium to find models that correspond to a particular battle or that belonged to their ancestors. Bids rise quickly, with some rifles fetching thousands of euros at auction.

These objects are not just weapons, but a historical witness to the scientific evolution of French gun design.

Knowing the value of a 1777 rifle

If you happen to own a 1777 rifle, and would like to know its value, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your piece, as well as any relevant information about it. If you wish to sell your property, you will also be accompanied by our specialists in order to benefit from alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.