bobinwmass
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2019
- Location
- Western Massachusetts
Some of you may get a chuckle, shed a tear, or both regarding this musket I rescued from an antique shop years ago. Someone with some blacksmithing skills had formed a set of wrought iron legs and collar, forged a crude replacement ramrod, and drilled a hole in the barrel to wire for a lamp. When I got it there was no lamp fixture, but there was still early 1900's cloth covered electrical cord hanging in the barrel. At the time this conversion was done, old muskets like these could probably be picked up for 5 bucks from Bannerman's. Apparently the "artist" was more concerned with creating the lamp than the original integrity of the musket, as the frizzen was partially broken off where it interfered with the placement of the legs, and some other parts were missing. I did remove the legs, put in an original mainspring so hammer and trigger function, and found a middle barrel band with sling swivel. For a couple years I displayed in the gun rack with my few other antique firearms. She looked good there as you cannot see the hole in the barrel unless looking directly from above. But I also felt bad everytime I saw those lonely handmade legs sitting in the closet. I finally decided to set her back up as a lamp since that is what had likely been for most of her existence, but the most authentic flintlock lamp I could make. Found an 1816 bayonet for cheap at a flea market, and mounted a swing arm mica shaded lamp at the top of the barrell. Have not been able to find an original frizzen or loose 1826 ramrod to date. The flintlock lamp is displayed near and lights my other antique firearms in the collection room.