November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
According to pages 116 & 117 of "American Military Shoulder Arms" by George D. Moller, on November 3rd, 1775, resolution of the prevential congress stated that the muskets contracted to be made in Massachusetts were to be delivered to Watertown and were to resemble the King's arms, and that they were to have 45" long .75 caliber barrels. Accord to Moller, all of the existing known Massachusetts muskets are generally of the Long Land Pattern configuration and have 44" to 46" barrels in .75 caliber. He states that most are stocked in walnut but some have cherry stocks. All have steel ramrods and provisions for bayonets. This example falls within the specifications stated above, and has a 45-7/16" tapered round .75 caliber barrel. There is a deeply stamped "31" on the left side of the breech and a brass notched sight mounted on the tang just behind the breech. There is an iron bayonet stud mounted on top 1-3/4" from the muzzle. The early unmarked banana lockplate is flat with beveled edges, and has been converted during the period of use to percussion. The American manufactured brass furniture is very similar to the Long Land Pattern British furniture, but is slightly different and clearly of American manufacture. The furniture includes a Long Land style wrist escutcheon, a trigger guard with a hole for sling swivel at the front of the bow, with the finials varying slightly from those found on British muskets. The sideplate imitates a Long Land Pattern Brown Bess, but is shaped with a slightly different curvature. The four-stage buttplate tang terminates in a ball and measures about 5-1/4" onto the comb, secured at the tip with an early iron staple. The ramrod entry ferrule appears to be cast, and the tang is much narrower than British pattern arms. The two foremost ferrules are of sheet brass, as well as the open-ended nose band. The musket is stocked in cherry, mimicking the British style with an arrow carved in relief where the comb enters the wrist. CONDITION: Completely as found and untouched. Barrel has a spotted gray and brown patina, with some light corrosion near bolster. Lock retains a mostly dark gray patina and functions properly. Brass furniture retains a dark mustard patina and is unpolished. Trigger guard finial has two reinforced screws in the front, which were added during the period for extra security. Stock retains a dry surface and has no restorations. Some minor and scattered cracks and chips due to age and use. A very scarcely encountered American Committee of Safety musket. DMG
Caliber/Bore
.75 Smoothbore
Model
Committee of Safety Musket