May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
This musket is illustrated and discussed on pages 114 & 115 in "For Liberty I Live" by Al Benting. This entirely American made copy of the British Long Land Pattern Brown Bess is of the Massachusetts Committy and Safety standards. Colonel James Barret lived between 1732-1779. He was one of the primary figures in the events surrounding the first Battle of the American Revolution. On April 19, 1775 at the Battle of North Bridge in Concord, Colonel Barret was the highest ranking officer in the field and was in command at the fight. His farm was the stored sight of all the town of Concord's militia powder, weapons, and two pairs of bronze cannons according to secret British intelligence. His barn was one of the chief objects of the British march command by Colonel Francis Smith of the 10th Regiment of Foot through Middlesex county on April 19, 1775. The British soldiers who reached the farm that morning found no weapons, as they had been moved or hidden by Barret's nephew and son who had spent most of the night and early morning plowing under the remaining contraband not taken westward by their militiamen. The musket itself features a smoothbore iron barrel with a bayonet lug mounted on top at the muzzle. The slightly banana-shaped lock is of the British style and features engraved double line borders. The center is engraved "J: BARRET". The brass furniture is all of American manufacture and is stylistically similar to the British Pattern 1756 Long Land Brown Bess. The cherry stock is of British style and features a piece of sheet brass at the nose cap and the entry ferrule towards the muzzle is slightly trumpeted. There is a relief beaver tail carved around the barrel tang. CONDITION: Barrel retains a dark heavily corroded patina and was probably shortened by about 1 - 3/4" during the period of use. The lock is in its original flintlock configuration and the marking in the center is still clear, however the lock has scattered areas of heavy corrosion and retains a mostly dark brown patina. The cock does not hold in any position and is disconnected from the spring. Brass furniture retains a mustard patina and shows scattered marks from use. The ramrod entry ferrule is absent. Stock shows heavy use including a repaired break at the toe, chipping and cracks around the lock, and some splintering and period repairs on both sides of the forend. Ramrod is period, but a replacement. This is an important completely American made musket.
Caliber/Bore
.75 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
Col. James Barret