May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
This musket has a 42 3/4 inch-long, tapered round barrel is band-fastened and has a bottom-mounted bayonet lug towards the muzzle. The noseband has an integral, blade-shaped front sight on top, while there is a corresponding sight groove filed in the barrel tang at breech. The lockplate is an early "banana" form, with rounded or convex profile and displays a single screw behind the cock and, like the barrel, bears no maker or proof marks. Brass furniture includes a convex S-shaped sideplate, an oval-shaped thumbpiece or wrist escutcheon bearing an engraved "E" in center, and a triggerguard that is stamped "No 8", as well as three barrel bands, all which have been derived from forms found on French musket patterns of the mid-18th century. The upper- or "noseband is retained by an iron spring, while the middle and rear bands are pressure-mounted, and the front of triggerguard has an integral lug cast for a rear sling swivel, all features found beginning with the French P1754 "fusil" or musket. Moreover, the form of the bands (the nosecap with a squared rear, the middle band stepped-in at barrel, both fore- and -aft), are those found on the French P1754 and P1763 models, but discontinued in the P1766 musket (at which time a spring was added to the middle band). However the full-length, walnut stock retains classic Germanic/Low Country features, including a thick butt with sheet-brass, buttplate (secured by two large, protruding, convex screws behind and terminating on top in a long tang secured by two flat screws), and relief panels terminating in tear drops or "beaver tails" around the lock cavity and the sideplate. "TOWN OF/ BOSTON" is branded on the right side of the buttstock, while behind the sideplate is a much later "U.S." mark. The iron, trumpet-headed ramrod appears original to the musket. There is another Dutch musket of this pattern known, in a private New England collection, that also bears the "TOWN OF BOSTON" brand on its butt, also similarly devoid of European maker, proof, or inspection marks. The mix of archaic and newer features suggest a period of manufacture of c. 1755-1780 and two nosecaps of the pattern found on these muskets have been excavated on military sites in the Lake George corridor occupied both during the French & Indian and Revolutionary Wars. It is known that arms were acquired from the Netherlands and Liege by American agents both during and immediately following of the Revolutionary War, but the postwar models have more modern lines, flat lockplates, different banding, and usually feature maker and proof marks. The lack of all identifiable national features and the relative scarcity of this pattern arm, suggests that such were clandestinely purchased from the Dutch prior to Holland's "official" entry into the war in 1780. From 1776-1787, the Boston maintained and equipped its own "Boston Regiment of Militia", a uniformed corps. With the adoption of a national-state militia system in 1787, this regiment was merged into the state system and Boston's arms became part of the state arsenal store. CONDITION: Very good overall, barrel retains an even and untouched brown patina. The lock is in its original flintlock configuration and functions well, retaining a dark brown untouched surface. All brass furniture is unpolished and retains a dark mustard patina, showing some light wear and marks from use. Stock retains much of its original finish and patina and shows some minor wear, minor age cracks, and marks from use. This is an extremely rare and fine example of an early American-branded musket. JLK
This musket is illustrated and discussed on pp. 72-73 of "For Liberty I Live."
Caliber/Bore
.75 Smoothbore