May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
This superb example of a regimentally-marked Long Land musket is one of three muskets surviving from the 43rd Regiment of Foot during the Revolutionary War epoch (one associated with Captain John Parker of Lexington Minute Company fame, now in the Massachusetts State House collection and the other, ex. coll. Bill Ahearn, sold at Skinner in 2019 for $49,200). It is engraved "43 REGT" on the top of the barrel and bears Ordnance view and proof marks, also centered on top near breech, with the maker's touchmark "FG" near breech on the left. The rounded lock has a crown/GR engraved before the cock and "GALTON/1756" behind, with a broad arrow inspection mark underneath the pan. The musket exhibits the standard regulation brass hardware for the Pattern 1756 Land Pattern musket with the exception of the second pipe, which is swelled at the front- or entry end to allow for more effective seating of the ramrod, an innovation later copied (with minor changes) by the "Pratt improved" pipe introduced in post-1778 muskets produced for the Tower. This flared or swelled-pipe is a feature also observed in the other two surviving 43rd Foot P1756 Long Lands--an "extra" improvement added at the Tower upon application of the regimental commander or perhaps later done by the regimental armorer. The brass thumbpiece at the wrist of the stock is engraved "2/2" (indicating likely issue to the second corporal of No. 2 or the Major's Company). The original walnut stock is unmarked, while the sheet-brass noseband and the iron ramrod with threaded end are both period replacements, almost certainly American. The musket has an original British, buff leather sling of the type observed on late 18th and early 19th century muskets in various collections, (although the brass buckle, although probably period, is not original to the sling) and an associated, Land pattern bayonet, fitted to the musket. The 43rd Foot had been carrying the same arms since 1762 and were completely rearmed (less the light infantry company) with a new set of 351 Long Land muskets and bayonets in just prior to its departure for America in early 1774, with additional wartime augmentation issues in 1775 and 1778. In late 1773, the regimental agent noted an extra fee of more than 14 pounds "Cash paid W[illiam]. Sharp for Engraving Arms" at the Tower--clearly the regimental name on the barrel and the company issue numbering on the thumbpieces of the said 351 sets of arms. The 43rd Foot had a long and distinguished combat record during the Revolution, from the opening engagements at Lexington, Concord and Bunkers Hill in 1775, through the New York campaign of 1776, the Philadelphia campaign of 1777, the 1778 siege of Rhode Island and finally, the 1781 siege of Yorktown, where the regiment and the rest of Cornwallis's army surrendered to the Franco-American forces under General George Washington and the Comte Rochambeau. CONDITION: the iron hardware a gunmetal grey, somewhat brownish in low spots from residual, old varnish once applied to the arm; the markings quite good and the lock in original flint configuration and in good working order; an old varnish applied to the stock, with random dings and bruises to the wood, otherwise good. JLK.
Illustrated and discussed on pp. 94-95 of "For Liberty I Live."
Caliber/Bore
.80 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
William Galton