May 17, 2022 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/17/2022
Edmund Bemis is listed in "The New England Gun" by Merrill Lindsay as a maker of Committee of Safety muskets in Boston, Massachusetts. It states that Bemis worked between 1746 and 1785 at his Boston shop, and that he was a maker of muskets and fowling pieces. A pistol is also known with similar identifying features and is marked "EB" on the barrel and "EDMUND BEMIS" on the lock. The American manufactured round barrel features heavy rings at the breech and a bayonet lug mounted on top, towards the muzzle. The flat American manufactured lockplate features double-line engraving and a period-replaced top jaw and top jaw screw. The brass furniture is American manufactured and shows similarities to British military furniture. The S-shaped convex sideplate is the style of the British Pattern 1779 Emergency S-Type. It is deeply marked with an "EB" with a feather design stamped in the middle. Buttplate with three-stage tang. Trigger guard is American-made in the British style, but more slender. Brass ferrules and nose cap. Cherry stock showing New England influence as well as Brown Bess influence. Bulge at ramrod entry ferrule and carved with an apron in relief around the barrel tang. There is an 1870's yellowed label with red border, which is no longer legible. Complete with its period American ramrod with old repair. CONDITION: Very good untouched condition throughout. Barrel retains a pleasing brown patina. Lock retains a matching brown patina and is in its original flintlock configuration and functions properly. Brass retains a dark unpolished mustard patina. Stock retains an untouched surface with a period repair above the back of the lock. Otherwise showing scattered small age cracks and marks from use, sling swivels absent. A very rare and historic signed Revolutionary War Committee of Safety musket. DMG
Item Dimensions: L: 57 - 1/2"
Caliber/Bore
.80 Smoothbore