July 30th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale (20)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2016
A fine and scarce American made musket with Long Land furniture and styled after the Committee of Safety muskets. In very dry “as found” condition, has never been cleaned. Round 38-7/8” barrel with bayonet lug 1-9/16” from muzzle in .79 caliber smoothbore. Breech with a 3/8” concave ring surrounded by set of two engraved lines on each side, also marked with an asterisk and a “C”. British military type 6-7/8” lock with plate and cock having an engraved double-line border and single screw behind cock. Inside of lock stamped “WG 66” with fleur de lis finial on frizzen spring. Cherry colored stock with unusually high comb and large drop, beavertail carving around barrel tang and slight bulge around entry ferrule, finish has crazed on some surfaces. Elongated panels of unusual length carved around lock and side plate. Brass furniture similar to a 1st Model Brown Bess, but unmarked and probably American made. Rounded serpentine side plate, trigger guard with early fleur de lis type finial at rear, and 5-1/2” three-step top of butt plate terminating in ball finial. Wrist escutcheon terminates at bottom in a point and a screw goes through center of inlay, similar to the Maryland muskets. The nose cap is made of sheet brass and fastened on both sides by a small brass pin. Four ramrod ferrules, all differing from the British pattern, the last two are trumpeted towards the muzzle. Steel ramrod, replaced during the period of use, as the original was wood. Complete with First Model Brown Bess bayonet with a 17” triangular blade marked “S. DAWES 2” near top and engraved large “6” on 4” throated socket. Very good condition, unaltered and “as found”, with dry and uncleaned surfaces overall. Lock and barrel have a dark brown even patina overall, lock is original flint. Brass furniture has a dark patina, stock is excellent with scattered marks from use and a small crack forward of lock and a few age cracks on forend. Bayonet is associated, but in very good condition with clear markings and dark brown patina. This musket is very similar to both early Brown Bess muskets and American Committee of Safety muskets, the only difference is in the shorter barrel, which is the length of an officer’s fusil barrel. This is an excellent example of a very historic Revolutionary War period musket in excellent condition.