Item Description
Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a true "CLASSIC" in all respects! This is a fantastic early "Sea Service" Brown Bess Musket, much like the later "Nelson Musket" introduced in 1777, but predating it by almost 20 years. It features an original British Proofed 37 inch long .75" barrel set in its original walnut stock, which bears just TWO ramrod pips. Quite correctly a throat pipe was never installed leaving just the two brass forward pipes to retain the brass tipped wooden ram rod. These were mainly used on board to repel boarding parties, and would later would be widely issued prior to the Napoleonic wars.
The early pattern lock has the correct single screw behind the hammer, and is engraved on the lock plate with CROWN over G.R. to center and is signed and dated WILSON / 1761 across the lock plate tail. After 1764, maker names and dates would no longer be listed on the locks, so this is completely correct. There is also the CROWN / BROAD ARROW lock viewer's mark under the pan partially under the frizzen spring. It has a lovely swan neck cock, and a pan with a frizzen reinforcement bridle.
The barrel is marked on the top with a somewhat hard to read CROWN / GR proof as well as a CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS from William Ketland in the city of Birmingham. His company made many guns and parts for other makers in both Birmingham and London, and his marking would be so wide spread that in 1813 it was adopted as the proof mark of the City of Birmingham Gun Company. There are also proof marks stamped into the wood in various places
The stock is fitted with the typical "Naval' trigger guard with a brass disc nose. The Naval butt plate is of correctly folded brass construction with three flush securing screws. The side plate is also of the tailed flat design. The stock is a lovely "bannister rail" style, with the beveled area surrounding the barrel tang. This pattern does not have a nose cap or lower ramrod pipe.
The condition of this rare musket is very nice, with a lovely patina on the metalwork, and fantastic condition stock. There are assembly markings in the ramrod channel, as well as on other components of the musket. Both sling swivels are present, as is the original brass tipped wooden ramrod. The lock functions correctly, holding at half cock and firing at full.
The included bayonet is in good condition, and looks exactly like a bayonet that saw service on sea should. The entire surface bears significant oxidation, with past pitting and scaling evident. It has been cleaned up a bit, but still has a lovely matured patina on the exterior. It fits the musket well, though it can be difficult to remove.
A fantastic example of a very hard to find Early Brown Bess Sea Service Musket, complete with its original bayonet! These are much harder to come by than the later "Nelson Musket" introduced in 1777. This musket comes from an old Collection in England which I.M.A. purchased during 2023. Ready to research and display!
Specifications (Musket):-
Year of Manufacture: 1761
Caliber: .80" Musket - probably worn
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 37 inches
Overall Length: 53 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Specifications (Bayonet):-
Blade length: 16 1/2"
Blade style: Triangular Socket
Socket Length: 4"
Overall length: 21"
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
- This product is available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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