3319

EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
EXCEEDINGLY RARE AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT
BRITISH PATTERN 1718 IRON MOUNTED MUSKET (PRE FIRST MODEL BROWN BESS) REGIMENTALLY MARKED FOR POCOCK COMPANY 3 (KING'S REGIMENT OF FOOT) W/ BAYONET. Cal. 78. NSN. Two other examples of this very rare early 18th century musket are known, one being at Colonial Williamsburg while the other is in the West Point Museum. This musket has 45 1/2" rnd. bbl. pinned to stock. Rear portion is stamped with British proofs and engraved "Pocock, C3 No 17". Lock with arched rounded plate has inset rounded pan, unbridled frizzen and feather spring with long flame finial. Exterior of lock is not maker marked, interior is stamped "BO" in rectangular cartouche. Rear portion of lock is engraved with royal crown over the initals, "G. R." in script. Lock is fitted with lg. rnd. bodied serpentine cock with top jaw that has short notch to align it with spur. Very early style walnut "handrail" stock has deeply fluted comb with Ogee transition to grip. Raised carved fields with tear drop terminals at rear are around front and back of lock and sideplates. Bbl. tang is also outlined. There is a pronounced palmswell at thimble. Stock extends to within 4" of muzzle and has steel cap. Pin of sling loop also helps secure stock to bbl. All furniture is of iron. Trigger guard with very distinct 1st model "Brown Bess" type finial, has fluted trigger guard bow unique to this model. Iron buttplate with pronounced rounded heel has long spear type top strap which is engraved "MAJrs Comp y". There is an iron escutcheon at top of grip which is unmarked. Sideplate is of early 1st model serpentine type. Steel ramrod with button head is held by 3 small-beaded iron pipes and thimble. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: early style unmarked socket bayonet with 13 1/2" triangular blade fits musket fairly well. CONDITION: good, original flint. All metal parts cleaned to an attractive silver and gray with considerable dark scattered pitting, mostly on bbl. Stock with old refinish, sharp details lost, some dents and losses with filler. Butt shows considerable shrinkage with metal of plate considerably above wood. Otherwise stock appears sound. Lock fits well and is operable. Bayonet is good, nearly all dark brown heavy patina. John Pocock became a colonel in the British army in 1707. At the time this musket was made (ca. 1721), the King's regiment was posted to Ireland and served there until 1727. At this time Pocock was promoted to Brigadier-General. He died in 1732. In the 1740s, the regiment was posted to Flanders and then to Scotland, where it fought in the battle of Falkirk, as well as Culloden. In 1751, the King's became the 8th Regiment of Foot and saw service in the 7 years war. During the American Revolution, the 8th regiment of foot was active and stationed in Canada and other posts on the Great Lakes, including Niagra, Detroit, Oswego, and Michilimackinac. They took part in the action in the battle of Vincennes, Newtown, as well as various skirmishes in the Mohawk Valley. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Gary Parietti. (01-19062/MGM). ANTIQUE. $10,000-20,000.