Musket time

[Mike goldkuhl]

Thank you for letting me be part of the group. I've had a few muskets in my time. Recently purchased one and thought this site might help me identify it. It is 60 inches long. If anybody can help me with this, I would definitely appreciate it.

 

[scooter748driver]

Welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.

I'm not sure about the type of musket you have. One of the experts like @johan_steele or others will be along with more info.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[JackADriscoll]

What's the size and are there any marks on the barrel?

 

[James Brenner]

It appears to be a civilian converted Brown Bess. The brass furniture sure looks like it's from a Bess as does the stock.

 

[captaindrew]

It does look like a Bess converted to percussion. The muzzle doesn't quite look right, shortened slightly maybe? Not the correct ramrod, that ramrod is for a rifle. Has the barrel been rifled? Is that even possible with a Bess barrel?

 

[captaindrew]

Oh and welcome to the forum @Mike goldkuhl Thanks for sharing your musket with us, I'm sure the gun experts will shed more light on this piece before long. Interested in finding out more myself.

 

[R. Porter]

My guess, without any research, is that it is what might be called a, "New England Militia Musket." That would put it in the early 1800's in New England. It was possibly made in England, originally as a flintlock, and later converted to percussion. The portion of barrel sticking out past the stock is for a bayonet and hints at a military purpose. The numbers on the butt plate would be some sort of rack numbers, I can't really see what's on the lock plate.

I'm not an expert or knowledgeable so you will want other opinions.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Thank you for letting me be part of the group. I've had a few muskets in my time. Recently purchased one and thought this site might help me identify it. It is 60 inches long. If anybody can help me with this, I would definitely appreciate it.

View attachment 546506

View attachment 546507

View attachment 546508

View attachment 546509

View attachment 546510

View attachment 546511

View attachment 546512

View attachment 546513

View attachment 546514

Welcome. I don't have the expertise to help you, but others on this site surely DO.

 

[bayonet]

Looks like a mixture of 2nd (Short Land) & 3rd model Brown Bess to include maybe 1st model or the Long Land Pattern. Better photo of the name & date on the rear of the lockplate would help me. 2nd model side plate but the 3 ramrod pipes point to 3rd model or a Fusil. The whole things been monkey'ed with. What's the barrel length. Was Flint at one time and converted to percussion. Every town had a gunsmith back in the day same as blacksmith. So Someone in America used parts to assemble that. Need better pics on the markings.

 

[bayonet]

Get a magnifying glass and read me the name on the rear lockplate. Also give me a pic of the top of the buttplate, is that where that 33 whatever is?

 

[Conquerordie]

I'd say the buttplate, trigger guard, and side plate, possible trigger plate are 1st pattern Bess. If you look closely, the lock has what remains of the British Broad arrow, so the lock was at least owned by the British military and not civilian. The thimbles look later. Like others have said, I think it's a parts gun, and had its life extended by converting it to percussion.

 

[R. Porter]

I did some research and have decided that this is an English Long Land Musket, circa 1768. The missing escutcheon plate from between the comb and barrel tang is a strong hint. The symbols on the butt tang appear to be 53 over H over a number. The 53 is for the 53rd Regt., part of Burgoyne's invasion force in 1777. The H stands for the 8th company under Capt. Baird which was captured at Fort Ticonderoga by Col. John Brown during his raid of 09/08/1777. Below the H should be a rack number. On the lock plate behind the hammer is the maker's name, F LORD, and below that should appear the year it was made.

This info and some pictures appear on page 61 of Battle Weapons of the American Revolution by George C. Neumann.

 

[scooter748driver]

Great research! How cool to have a weapon that old!

I can't say for sure, but it looks like 33 over H on the butt tang.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Great research! How cool to have a weapon that old!

I can't say for sure, but it looks like 33 over H on the butt tang.

I agree and if that's the case it could have been surrendered at Yorktown. The 33rd has quite the history

 

[R. Porter]

Great research! How cool to have a weapon that old!

I can't say for sure, but it looks like 33 over H on the butt tang.

I thought about the first digit being 3 but decided to go with 5 because of what seemed to be subtle differences. These could be accounted for by the fact that it was engraved; a better image is needed. This is an example of luck and having the right reference source. It also helped that previous commenters kept mentioning "Browm Bess."

 

[bayonet]

Yeah I see 33 not 53 but true the 33rd was interned/surrendered at Yorktown. Again get out the magnifying glass. Might be worth it to transition it back to Flintlock with original parts.

 

[bayonet]

Thank you for letting me be part of the group. I've had a few muskets in my time. Recently purchased one and thought this site might help me identify it. It is 60 inches long. If anybody can help me with this, I would definitely appreciate it.

View attachment 546506

View attachment 546507

View attachment 546508

View attachment 546509

View attachment 546510

View attachment 546511

View attachment 546512

View attachment 546513

View attachment 546514

oh by the way what did you pay for this "purchase"?

 

[Mike goldkuhl]

I did some research and have decided that this is an English Long Land Musket, circa 1768. The missing escutcheon plate from between the comb and barrel tang is a strong hint. The symbols on the butt tang appear to be 53 over H over a number. The 53 is for the 53rd Regt., part of Burgoyne's invasion force in 1777. The H stands for the 8th company under Capt. Baird which was captured at Fort Ticonderoga by Col. John Brown during his raid of 09/08/1777. Below the H should be a rack number. On the lock plate behind the hammer is the maker's name, F LORD, and below that should appear the year it was made.

This info and some pictures appear on page 61 of Battle Weapons of the American Revolution by George C. Neumann.

View attachment 546581
View attachment 546577

Mr. PorterI cannot express how grateful I am for your input. You and everybody who has responded to my post are just plain awesome. I'm guessing you are all Patriots to our great democracy. I am so lucky to be an American. And extremely happy that I've purchased this piece of the world's history. I will take more photos of this musket and post them for you and all the other enthusiast to enjoy them. Thank you again and be well.

 

[R. Porter]

Looks like a 53 to me.