The French army fought the Seven Years War with guns designed a generation earlier. A royal ordinance of 7 October 1732, drawn up by Jean-Florent de Vallière, cut France's artillery down to five calibres of cannon: 4, 8, 12, 16 and 24 pounders. Each barrel was cast in one piece of bronze and bored out, and lengths, weights and even the decoration were fixed by regulation. Every gun carried a name and inscriptions. The Vallière guns were accurate and well made, but they were heavy, and even the smaller pieces were slow to move on a battlefield. In 1765, two years after the war ended, France began replacing them with the lighter Gribeauval system.

The officer stands behind the gun in a blue coat over a red waistcoat and breeches, his tricorne laced in gold. Two gunners in blue coats with red facings carry the rammer and the sponge. A third, at the breech, works the vent. Two more, stripped to their red waistcoats, bring up a handspike and a roundshot. The gun is painted black on a blue carriage. For an artillery duel, set it opposite Royal Artillery 1750. To support the French line, place it beside French Infantry and French Colonial Artillery.

Tradition of London set 665. Officer, five gunners and gun, six foot figures on square gloss bases. 54mm scale (approximately 1/30). All toy soldiers cast in quality white metal and individually hand-painted in gloss enamels. Packed in the Classic Tradition Red Box. Please allow 2–3 weeks for shipping.