May 17, 2022 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/17/2022
As the Royal Navy put itself on a war footing in 1755, a permanent “Corps of Marines” was authorized to and by 1756, the Tower of London Small Arms Office had contracted for a new pattern arm designed specifically for these sea soldiers. Essentially, it was a shortened and streamlined version of the Land Pattern Musket, with a 42" long, tapering, round barrel of 0.72 caliber and with simplified brass mountings, including a flat sideplate, shorter buttplate with tang fastened by a screw, and the lack of a thumbpiece on the wrist of the stock. Far more practical and cheaper to produce, it was subsequently designated for issue to the independent companies of the British Army and standing militia regiments, as well, ceasing production in 1776 (when replaced by the Short Land pattern). This particular example is the only one known that utilizes the earlier Pattern 1742 'banana-shaped' (all other known examples having the 1756 lock) and thus, must be among the first Marine muskets contracted for in 1756 and setup and delivered in early 1757. The musket is 57 - 3/4" long, with a 0.79 bore and bears Ordnance view and proof marks on top of the barrel near the breech. Both the barrel and lock bear the markings of Edward Jordan (fl. 1733-1758); the latter is engraved “JORDAN/1744” behind the cock. Jordan was a principal supplier of barrels and locks to the Board of Ordnance from 1738 until his death in 1758. The English walnut fullstock has setup marks in the ramrod channel, inspection marks behind the trigger guard, and a deep storekeeper’s stamp on the right face of the butt. The musket was altered from its original wooden ramrod configuration sometime following 1759 by the addition of a tailpipe with spring, which enabled it to accept an iron ramrod as ordered by the Admiralty Board. The cruder method of inletting for this rear pipe suggests that the later modification was done by an armorer at one of the Marine divisions or an arsenal, rather than at the Tower Small Arms Workshop. An extant 18th century account book for the Plymouth Division verifies this practice. CONDITION: This arm is in outstanding “attic condition” as found, with all original parts intact, with the exception of one of the two “side nails”, the lock in very good, working order, the ironwork all a dark gunmetal shade with some light pitting to the pan and vent areas and the wooden stock with a few bruises and scars. JLK
Caliber/Bore
.79 Smoothbore
Model
P1757/59 Marine Musket