November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
During the summer of 1775, the Maryland Committee of Safety set requirements for the local production of roughly Brown Bess "Short Land" patterned muskets for the impending Revolution. This example features a 42 - 1/4" .78 caliber round tapered barrel marked with a faint "M" on top of breech and an "SS" cartouche on left side of breech. Daniel Hartzler attributes this "SS" to Samuel Smith of Baltimore, a known arms maker fined by the Committee of Safety after selling arms to Virginia in 1776. This musket is fit with an unmarked convex lockplate with swan neck cock. The stock is knotty walnut, crafted somewhat roughly, possibly due to the immediate and dire need for arms in Maryland. The top of the comb is completely flat. The initials "TB" are deeply carved into the left side of the butt. Stamped with "SS" cartouche on flat area along breech, above sideplate. Mounts are brass and are characteristic of the Short Land Pattern Brown Bess muskets and includes 4 ram rod thimbles, trigger guard with acorn finial, wrist escutcheon secured by a central screw, and relatively plain butt plate. Musket is complete with an iron trumpet-tipped ramrod. This musket is featured on page 14 of Hartzler and Whisker's "Gunsmiths of Maryland". CONDITION: Good showing age and period use throughout. Iron components exhibit a pleasing dark patina. Lock is in its original flintlock configuration and does not hold on on cock or half cock. Frizzen spring is a later replacement. The butt stock has several filled knot holes and some period abrasions, with some splits, splicing and repairs throughout the forend. BAS
Caliber/Bore
.78 Smoothbore
Model
Maryland Committee of Safety Style Musket
Paperwork
Book Photo Copies