Original Item: Only One Available. This is something that we have only had a very few of over the years. The British Lovell's Pattern of 1842 was the last smoothbore musket adopted by British Forces, and would be superseded in 1853 by the "3-Band Enfield" Pattern of 1853. Almost all of our examples of British Percussion Muskets were East India Company issued out of Nepal. However this is a genuine British Military Issued musket.

When Queen Victoria came to the British Throne in 1837, the very last model of Brown Bess Flintlock Musket that incidentally had a 42" barrel was adopted in 1838. Apart from this obsolete length, the norm then being 39", and the Victorian Lock markings the lock had a rounded" back; not pointed as in all previous Brown Bess models.

This P-1838 is among the most rare Brown Bess of all as it was superseded almost as soon as it was introduced. In 1839 the Percussion system was officially adopted and a vast conversion program was instituted to convert all Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets to this new ignition system. By 1841 the Tower of London, England's greatest Arsenal, had over 280,000 newly converted Brown Bess muskets in its armories.

On October 30th 1841 there occurred "THE GREAT FIRE OF THE TOWER OF LONDON" and just about all of these freshly converted muskets were destroyed. As it happened, just three days before this tragic fire, a fresh model percussion musket had been approved and sealed. This new Musket became known as the Lovell's Pattern Musket of 1842. At the time Lovell was the "Inspector of Small Arms," a post he rose to in 1840, and the new style musket that bears his name is essentially none other than the East India Company Musket already in use by the East India Company for some years.

Once again the government copied private enterprise just as they had with the third model Brown Bess in 1796 that was known as the "India Pattern" and was copied from the East India Company Brown Bess musket adopted in 1771.

This example that we offer here is marked and dated 1845 / ENFIELD, for manufacture at the Royal Small Arms factory in the London Borough of Enfield. The lock plate tail is marked CROWN / V.R., meaning that this was a military production rifle, intended for British use, and it has the correct "Lock Viewer's Mark". The barrel is marked 1844 ENFIELD along with another CROWN / VR. It also bears additional barrel proofs, which are somewhat faded.

Condition is very nice, with a lovely stock that just looks great. There is a small crack between the rear lock screw and the end of the barrel, but no other issues. Both sling swivels are intact and in good shape. This example has a very nice "Lovell Style" bayonet catch, which moves to the side to release the bayonet, unlike earlier bayonet latch mechanisms. The lock is functional, and holds correctly at half cock, with some play in the hammer. The correct rear sight is still intact.

A very nice and rare Pattern 1842 Musket made at Enfield, ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1845
Caliber: .75"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 39 Inches
Overall Length: 54 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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