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AMERICAN RESTOCKED 1ST MODEL BROWN BESS FLINTLOCK

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
AMERICAN RESTOCKED 1ST MODEL BROWN BESS FLINTLOCK
. Cal. 76. NSN. Bbl. 42”. A classic British 1st Model Brown Bess mfg. as a 1756 Long Land musket w/ the bbl. being shortened to 42”, 2nd Model length, by the British military. Bbl. has a bayonet lug on the top & several proofs near the breech including a partially visible “F G” on the cheek side. There is a crowned “GR” over broad arrow along w/ a crowned crossed keys mark on the top of the bbl. & a crowned “9” on the lock side. The lock is marked w/ a crown “GR” in front of the cock & a sm. crowned broad arrow under the pan. There is also a mark behind the cock that appears to have been purposely removed, possibly during American reissue. Upon examination of the inside of the lock, there are several proof marks including a clear & distinct “F G”. The “F G” stamp probably stands for Farmer & Galton, noted Birmingham gunsmiths. James Farmer & Samuel Galton were active in the gunsmith trade starting in the mid 1700s & the exponential growth of their thriving business was due to primarily to the slave trade. They were chief suppliers to the African Company & arms suppliers to most of the other British slave trading companies. They supplied arms in support of the British government through many wars & conflicts earning vast profits, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. The musket has a brass trigger guard w/ well articulated finials. Lg. brass 3 step buttplate w/ brass escutcheon at top of wrist. Brass rounded sideplate w/ long tail. There are 4 brass thimbles & a brass nosecap. Stock has well defined beaver tails in back of the lock & in back of the sideplate. It is possible this musket was restocked by an American gunsmith prior to being reissued during the Revolution to American troops. There is a mark near the buttplate on the cheek side that could be a store keeper’s mark. Stock has a noticeable swell to the rear of the entry thimble. Both iron sling swivels are present as well as the original iron ramrod. CONDITION: bbl. exhibits a wonderful deep, dark ancient patina. Lock has a dark gray patina & holds both full & half cock. The lock is correct, however it may not be the original lock for this gun. Mainspring has been replaced & does not fit properly. The frizzen spring screw is replaced. The frizzen spring itself may also be a replacement. Brass generally has a mottled, light mustard patina w/ the thimbles & nosecap having a darker patina. Stock remains quite solid & boasts a wonderful deep, rich finish acquired over many years. There are 2 sm. losses below & at the front of the lock & several sm. sliver losses to the top of the bbl. channel. Bore is fair. This fine example of a 1st Model Brown Bess is untouched in most respects but was shortened to 42” as most early British arms were to conform w/ the length of the newly introduced 2nd Model Brown Bess. The lock was likely replaced w/ a correct period lock sometime during the life of the musket. PROVENANCE: Ex-Walter O' Connor Collection. (01-18161/BF). ANTIQUE. $6,000-9,000.