British EIC P-1771 Brown Bess Flintlock Complete Musket: Gurkha Marked Lock

Original Item (except where specified): It is no secret that included in the extraordinary cache of arms purchased from the Royal Nepalese Armory by IMA there were a limited quantity of original 18th Century British Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets. Regrettably, they were in a deplorable condition having arrived in Nepal via the East India Company sometime before 1820 and laid undisturbed, and not cared for, since the 1850’s. These Brown Bess Muskets are the East India Company Pattern of 1771 featuring a 39" barrel. The British Government adopted the 39" barrel (reduced in length from the 42” Short Land Pattern) in 1796. This is why these muskets are commonly referred to as "The Brown Bess India Pattern of 1796" or the Brown Bess 3rd model.

The Flintlock Locks were all made in England for the East India Company and still retain English maker markings, and incredibly dates within the 1770’s. Each lock also shows the East India Company heart symbol across lock tail. None of these locks however, bear a "Crown G.R." symbol as India was privately run as a corporation until after the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857/58 when the British Government assumed control.

The Flintlock Locks were all made in England for the East India Company and but the original English maker markings were removed once in Gurkha hands, after 1816, and replaced with a Gurkha Nepalese crest. Because so many of the original stocks are broken, rotted and useless we have decided a complete fully assembled musket built by hand by IMA’s own master gunsmith. Features include:
• Original English made Flintlock lock with Gurkha Nepalese Crest marking. Fully integrated to the new stock, operational, cleaned and oiled. Not intended for firing.
• Original Brown Bess 39” Barrel made by the East India Company in India and features Anglo Indian proof marks. Fully installed to the new stock, cleaned and oiled. Not intended for firing.
• Original all steel button nosed ramrod, cleaned, oiled and installed.
• New Made stained and oiled hardwood stock, pattern 1808, complete with all brass mounts, butt plate, trigger guard, side plate and ramrod pipes (3) together with a new made trigger assembly already fitted.

Save your very own piece of British colonial history. These original parts are old enough to have taken part in the American war for Independence but they didn't, they were half a world away building an Empire. We also offer this Brown Bess 3rd Model with a Gurkha marked lock in unassembled condition for $695 (that’s a $600 savings to build one yourself!)

In order to assist in your appreciation for, and research of, this amazing piece of history, we will include our book “Guns of the Gurkhas” by renowned expert John Walter. These very flintlocks are featured on pages 24-29. “It can only be concluded therefore, that the locks were all made in England prior to the end of the Napoleonic War in 1815”. P29- John Walter ‘Guns of the Gurkhas’. Simply Amazing.

This price even lower than a 20th century replica Brown Bess. Amazing!