AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR BROWN BESS MUSKET
HISTORIC 42” BARREL SHORT LAND BROWN BESS MUSKET OF AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR ‘EMERGENCY PRODUCTION’ PATTERN 1779-S WITH AMERICAN COLONIST UNIT MARKINGS COMPLETE WITH A LATER BAYONET
With the barrel makers markings and unit markings on this Brown Bess, it is almost certain that this first contract (1779-1780) Pattern 1779-S Bess was used during the American Revolutionary War. As Erik Goldstein and Stuart Mowbray say on P115 of "The Brown Bess" - attributing Revolutionary War service to any particular example remains problematical but the stock and barrel markings make this Bess a near certainty.
This is a 1779-S Pattern Brown Bess Musket with the characteristics of that Pattern, namely the S shaped sideplate without a tail, with a lock of 1777 pattern fitted with an earlier shaped finial frizzen spring. In other words, a 1779-S musket made using some earlier salvaged/stock parts, not unusual and explained by the shortage of arms which instigated the Pattern 1779-S musket. A very rare American Colonist Patriot Unit marked 1779-S as it must have fallen into their hands during the war - this being due to the fact that only 5103 muskets of this first contract were made by the Ordnance hurriedly for British Troops or Loyalist Militia use.
For more information, see "The Brown Bess" by Goldstein and Mowbray pages 132-141 for the Pattern 1779-S and pages 112 -121 for Pattern 1777.
This Short Land pattern original flint Brown Bess Musket has a full 42 inch barrel with strong Ordnance Proofs along top centre line and makers mark of "IW" who was James Waller thereby dating this musket to pre 1781 and the height of the Revolutionary War as Waller only set up Pattern 1777 muskets for the Ordnance from 1777 until 1781. Ordnance Inspectors crown mark to right hand side of breach is hidden by frizzen. Peppering around touch hole otherwise excellent barrel with bayonet lug. Tang with both Inspectors crown mark to rear and further proof mark. See page 118 in 1977 pattern section of "The Brown Bess" by Goldstein/Mowbray for an identically marked barrel and tang by the same maker. Lock engraved with Crown over GR and TOWER with border engraved lockplate and a feint inspectors stamp of a crown over arrow, the inside of the lock struck with an inspectors stamp and the intials HJ and T3.
Furniture is brass regulation 1777/1779-S pattern with the wide-mouthed second ramrod pipe that first appeared on the 1777 pattern musket, triggerguard has crown mark to the inside of triggerguard bow as illustrated on page 119 of "The Brown Bess". Ordnance inspectors mark in stock of a crown over 6 behind triggerguard (feint). The stock engraved to the "2 BATL N YORK M" (2nd Battalion York Militia) with what looks like a 1 before it possibly making it 1st Company 2nd Battalion. The "N" of Battalion being reversed and accented. Sling swivels and ramrod are probably original to the musket. The wood refinished overall. Complete with very good fitting bayonet with 4" socket, makers mark of Osborn in script and inspectors markings of crown over 24 to blade with other markings including the number 17. This bayonet is an excellent fit (bayonets often described as original to gun are invariably a poor fit!) but is a slightly later addition/replacement as Henry Osborn made bayonets for the Ordnance under his own name from 1796-1808.
Length 57.75" inches without bayonet. Length 75.25" with bayonet attached.
During the American Revolutionary War, most male citizens were required to bear arms for local militia. Brown Bess muskets were used by both sides during the conflict. The Short Land supplemented the Long Land pattern Brown Bess many of which were still in service.
The 2nd Battalion York Militia was an American Colonist unit raised in Pennsylvania in 1777 and were active during the Revolutionary War, the 1st Company, 2nd Battalion being formed on August 9th under Captain Samuel Ferguson who was killed at the Battle of Brandywine where General George Washington was defeated in battle against the British. Please see links below amongst others for further information. Please note: Not to be confused with the York Militia of Upper Canada in the War of 1812 which was a regiment, not a battalion, and also by then the 39" barrel Pattern 1793 Brown Bess was in service.
https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/09/york-county-pennsylvania-militia-1777/
https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Revolutionary-War-Militia-York.aspx
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandywine_order_of_battle
Also see for reference:
"FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS... and their values", by Norm Flayderman, 9th edition, 2007.
"BATTLE WEAPONS of the American Revolution" by George C. Neumann, 1998.
"SMALL ARMS OF THE BRITISH FORCES IN AMERICA 1664-1815," by De Witt Bailey, Ph.D., 2009.
Price: £6,250.00
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU 631D
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
REVENUE CUTTER BLUNDERBUSS
AN EXTREMELY RARE NAMED REVENUE CUTTER BLUNDERBUSS FROM USRC RUSH OF THE REVENUE-MARINE (RENAMED UNITED STATES REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE 1894, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD FROM 1915)
Exceptionally rare Flintlock Blunderbuss marked to the Revenue Cutter Rush. This would be the USRC Rush (1831). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USRC_Rush_(1831) Research has eliminated Revenue Cutters from England or elsewhere as there are none recorded by that name.
This is believed to be one of the earliest (maybe the earliest) antique firearms that can be attributed to the USRC. It was made circa 1790 by the Irish maker Thomas Fowler of Dublin (in business from 1790-1830) who also made similar items for Dublin Castle. Indeed, many of the Dublin Castle arms were sold off in the 1820 and 1830's so this may even have been one of those items. However, it is much more likely that the blunderbuss was acquired by the U.S. Revenue-Marine a lot earlier than 1831 and issued to the USRC Rush from stores. Indeed, this blunderbuss could have been acquired and used when the U.S. Revenue-Marine was formed in 1790 as the proof marks, lock and style of blunderbuss are early - Fowlers later blunderbusses invariably had sprung bayonets and more refined flintlocks with throat hole flintcocks, roller frizzen mechanisms etc. Between 1790 and 1798 the Revenue-Marine was the only armed maritime service of the United States.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Revenue_Cutter_Service
To our knowledge there were very few specialist blunderbuss makers in the USA at that time (1790) so it would not be unusual for the U.S. Revenue-Marine to equip with blunderbusses from an Irish or British maker.
Interestingly, this flintlock blunderbuss was obviously used well into the 1830's, due to its association with the Rush, which is late for flintlocks but mirrors the fact that flintlocks were still made and used by English Revenue, Customs and Police in the late 1830's with contracted makers such as Harding. William IV regulation cavalry pistols were still being made with flintlock ignition until 1837 rather than the percussion system.
The blunderbuss is in well used condition but original. It has a 17" two stage octagonal and round barrel with flared muzzle, London proof marks, floral engraving to breech area, brass furniture of trigger guard and butt plate, horn tipped ramrod with extractor worm, lock marked FOWLER and most importantly the original marking on the top flat of REV E RUSH 2 with the E after REV above the letters which denotes an abbreviated word, in this case Revenue. The stock has had a few old repairs around the shoulder on the left side. There is another mark 'WA196' on the buttplate which may be an inventory number but despite the small size of the mark it is more likely to be an Irish Registration mark for Waterford which indicates the blunderbuss came back to Ireland around 1843 after its period of USRC service. Overall length of the blunderbuss is 32.5 inches.
An exceptionally rare and possibly unique U.S. Revenue-Marine/ Cutter Service / Coast Guard item.
Price: £5,500.00
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU 630D
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
RAJASTAN ARMOURY INDIAN MATCHLOCK TORADOR
EARLY 19TH CENTURY INDIAN DALHOUSIE ARMOURY MATCHLOCK TORADOR
Description to follow
Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information.
Price: £575.00
Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing this item - quoting reference: SKU: 622D
The price includes UK mainland delivery. No licence is required to possess this item in the UK if owned as a curio as part of a collection or display.
