.71 caliber, 34″ rifled barrel with lug to accommodate a saber bayonet.  The barrel is dated “1849” and has a folding ladder type rear sight.  Back action percussion lock.  Walnut stock.  The steel buttplate showing military inspections.  Finished bright overall and remaining in excellent condition.  The Thouvenin or pillar breech system was first used in France around 1846 and was the predecessor of the Minnie ball.  Very similar to the  Belgian model 1850 rifle musket.  These rifle are quite scarce and were an important development for the evolution of the rifled musket.