Russian Muskets?

[CountArach]

Hey guys, this one is a bit obscure, but you never know...

I was wondering if anyone had some information on the Russian muskets during the Napoleonic Wars? I am struggling to find anything beyond stuff saying that they relied on the French captured ones during the 1812 invasion.

So yeah, anything would be good. Links would be brilliant!

[Csargo]

I found this this The type of musket the Russian army probably used... I could be wrong

[cegorach]

You might want to check this webside

http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/Russian_infantry.htm

Most likely the best source about the period in the entire web.


Here is a quote about the equipment

Equipment of Russian Infantry.
"Hair powder is not gunpowder, curls are not cannons,
a queue is not a sword, and I am not a German..."
- Suvorov to Tsar

According to many westerners Russian weaponry had one marked characteristic: it was extremely rugged, of the simplest design consistent with efficiency. Despite its simplicity and lack of refinement, it was generally good. In the beginning of Napoleonic Wars the inferior quality of powder and muskets plagued Russian infantry. Another problem was the outdated metallurgical and gunpowder industries. Between 1805 and 1809, the manufacturers limited production to 2 calibers, and in 1809 to one caliber. But the old weapons were still in use. In the beginning of 1812 the armament of the infantry included Russian and foreign weapons of 28 different calibers. Factories at Tula and Sestrovetsk produced between up to 170,000 weapons a year.

The Russian musket of 1805-pattern weighed 5.16 kg while the 1808-pattern only 4.46-4.47 kg. The 1808-pattern musket was 145.8 cm long (with bayonet 183 or 188 cm) and it had caliber 17.78 mm. Although many regiments were armed with the new musket of 1808-pattern, in some units were still used old Russian muskets of various calibers. Many muskets were so worn out with firing that they were non-functional. The ammunition was kept in a cartridge pouch worn on a deerskin crossbelt 6.7 cm wide, over the left shoulder. The black leather pouch held 60 cartridges. In November 1808 was ordered that the bayonet should always be carried fixed, as for the grenadiers and musketiers, as for the jägers.
Many muskets were purchased in other countries, including 60,000 from Great Britain. The Moscow Grenadier Regiment received large number of British "Brown Bess." There were thousands of captured weapons. The French musket was considered as the lightest and best made, the British were larger and more durable, the Prussian, Swedish and old Russian muskets were considered as unwieldy.

Between 1803 and 1812 the factories in Toula (Tula) issued 20,000 rifles. In June 1808 the rifle was withdrawn and used only by NCOs and 12 marksmen in each jager company. The rifle had barrel with 8 grooves, it was 66-cm long and of 16.51 mm caliber. It weight (without bayonet) was 4.09 kg and its total length with the sword-bayonet was 153.7 cm.

Besides weapons the infantrymen carried tools. The second rank of every company carried 20 ax (each 73.2-cm long), 10 shovels and 5 pick (kirok) and hoes (motika). The iron parts of axes and shovels were kept in special covers made of used cloth.

In 1811 halberds were withdrawn from all grenadier regiments, and the sergeants and NCOs who had them were given muskets with bayonets and, consequently, cartridge pouches with crossbelts.

There is more general information in other parts of the webside.


I hope you like it.

[CountArach]

I've read through that site before (It's one of the most used things in my favourites ), unfortunately, I must have missed that short section. Thanks for the help guys!

[Kalle]

Is there any information regarding who is responsible for the information that the site contains?
regards
/Kalle

[CountArach]

http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/index.html

Contributors: Dr. Jean Cerino Badone (articles devoted to the Italian troops, war of the Alps, etc. incl. "Les Compagnies ..."), Dr. Dominique Buresi, A. Nuñez and G. Smith (Spanish troops, Portuguese, Peninsula, Spanish guerilla, incl. "The cruel war in Spain" and others), P. Hofschroer (articles devoted to the Prussian army, Blucher, Duke Wellington, and Siborne, incl. articles "Waterloo - The German Victory", "Prussian Troops and Commanders", etc.), M. Townsend, Oliver Schmidt (detailed info on the Prussian army, weapons, tactics and organization), Paolo Gerolla (Vienna Congress, Italian troops, incl. "Il Congresso di Vienna"), Jan Kowalik (info on the Polish troops, campaign of 1806 and 1807, photographs), Nikolai Mozhak (Russian generals, Russian army and history), Rémi B. (French troops), Richard Lysiak (Guard chavauxlegeres), Pedro Castilla, M. Ayala (on the Spanish, British, and Portuguese troops), Thomas Mischak and Andreas Hetzert (Prussian troops), Erwin Muilwijk (Dutch and Belgian troops), Z. Olszewski (maps, and several articles incl. "French Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery", "Austrian Troops" and others), J. Carvalho (tactics, maps, articles, incl. "Bonapartists in Americas"), Giuseppe Rava (Italy), Jason Seigers (article: "Belgians in the French army"), James Mitchell, Jr., and J. Jaye (introduction, webpolls, webmaster).
Many thanks to those who sent suggestions, interesting tidbits, photos, illustrations, etc.

So several people with PhD's in the field.

[Kalle]

Thanks :)

Kalle

[Furious Mental]

Sounds unusually reliable. Unfortunately information on the internet is frequently complete nonsense.