A few people have been interested in reenacting French grenadiers - I don't know much about the various dates when certain equipment was used - when was the socket bayonet adopted? I think it was suspended from the cartridge box strap but I am not sure. Also the sling slivel - presumably a gunsmith could easily make a barrel band as below. Swords... I see a lot of images of grenadiers with straight bladed ones... when was the hatchet carried? 
I am in hog heaven, 
Thanks to a tip-off from a pal I found these images of Louis XIV's army on this site Reunion des Musees Nationaux which contains many paintings and engravings from the era of this blog. These are all from A M Mallet. There's something of a thrill to be had to find pictures that you haven't seen before...you may have already encountered them. All these images are quite early from the look at the clothing and equipment.
By George Satterfield
I'm always interested in books dealing with our local historical event in the late 17thc, the Monmouth Rebellion, as it is a great age for swashbuckling - and this looks worth a read, a seemingly well researched and entertaining capture of this ripe-for-fiction age. Review here. The bumph from the publisher's website reads:
Most people know Mallet from his cartographical work - here are some less familiar pieces on the subject of fortifications from the Travaux de Mars.
Website here. Models of fortified towns. This museum looks worth a visit - part of the Invalides. It contains models - mostly in 1/600 scale of fortified towns gathered from across the centuries. The tradition started in 1668 at the behest of Louvois.
Possibly showing Dutch troops. Last quarter of the 17th century.
This detail from Van der Meulen's depiction of Louis XIV at the crossing of the Rhine (see masthead for full version) shows the French army in its pre uniform days. The black and white engaving depicts the same scene. I can look at these old paintings all day.
Engraving: "soldier killed by a cannon shot behind the king." Wiki here
Another great painter of battle scenes often generic cavalry skirmishes in the style of Wouvermans. Wiki on him here
Thanks to the Flanderkin blog
This caricature from 1693 entitled Louis XIV and his harem is interesting for a number of features.
Drabant Miniatures. I really appreciate well sculpted and researched figures - and these are some of the best. They are veritable works of art - see the Swedish musketeer on the left. The website is also a great and inspirational place with a gallery by A. Karashchyuk of War of Spanish Succession art including this lovely painting of French troops at Blenheim 1704 (the picture shows musketeer and grenadier of the Regiment de Languedoc) which ranks as one of my favourite depictions of French troops of the era.
The next big 300 anniversary event I know of is the Battle of Lesnaya fought between the Swedes and Russians in the Great Northern War. The wiki states
Their was a Swiss officer Soury who was also killed in the same assault causing the witticism that Duisburg cost Louis a 'Martin and a Mouse'.
This is a pleasant looking model for 15mm scale - the scale I am thinking of wargaming this era in. It's a little expensive but worth looking at all the same as they sell it in pieces so you can build it to your own specs. Website here.
As far as I know the Grenadier was a French innovation - it started with the Du Roi Regiment who had 4 per company in 1667 at the instigation of the famous Colonel Jean Martinet. The experiment was successful and in 1670 they were grouped into a company. The Anjou, Lyonnais, Dauphin and Royal Vaisseuax followed in early 1671. Flintlock muskets were carried from 1670. The sling - the Grenadiere did not become universal until the early 18th century.
Grenadiers a Cheval
Not sure of the date for this - early 18th century I think. One of the senior vieux regiments - the fifth - Navarre wore gris-blanc lined with the same. Apparently nearly came to blows with the Garde Francais by trying to enter Gravelines before them in 1644. Famous battle cry; 'En avant Navarre sans peur!'
With all the fuss about the new replacement gates at Versailles I thought I'd post this background detail of French Guards arrayed in ranks.
If you feel inspired to recreate Louis XIV's infantry and want a reasonable priced French flintlock for the late Louis XIV (or if you like Marlburian era) then this 1696 Tulle repro looks good value. Based on a gun issued to the French Compagnies franches de la Marine (picture by M Petard). Get it from Loyalist Arms in Canada or Derbyshire Historic Arms in the UK. French fusils weren't regulated until the M1717 came out in that year but this repro looks like it has all the classic features of a fusil of the pre-ordonnance era including the graceful cow's foot stock. It takes a plug bayonet. These fusils were quite fine compared to the English flintlock of the period and their (comparative to the matchlock) fragility impaired their adoption into the French army.
