Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original British Napoleonic era officer private purchase .65 caliber smoothbore flintlock fusil by Ketland & Adams, dating to approximately 1813. Built in the general style of the Brown Bess but on a lighter and smaller scale, it has a 39 1/4" round barrel, measures approximately 55" overall, and retains its original flintlock configuration, brass furniture, sling swivels, checkered English walnut stock, and numbered ramrod.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Private purchase fusils of this type were lighter than regulation infantry muskets and were commonly intended for officers and other individuals who supplied their own arms. This example uses a bore of approximately .65 caliber rather than the larger service musket caliber and combines Brown Bess influenced furniture and stock architecture with finer private purchase details.

The lock is faintly marked:

KETLAND
&
ADAMS

for the British gunmaking firm active during the Napoleonic period. This was one of the final names used by the Ketland family of Gunmakers, used after John Adams joined during the early 19th century. The lock retains a swan neck cock, reinforced frizzen bridle extending to the pan, and a roller at the end of the frizzen spring to reduce friction during operation.

The mainspring remains strong, and the lock presently functions correctly, holding securely at half cock and releasing at full cock. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the fusil is safe to load or fire.

The top of the barrel breech is marked:

№ 5

and the same number is repeated near the end of the ramrod, supporting long association between the two components. The barrel additionally bears the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / B P C "proof" over CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" markings from the gun company of Birmingham, which were introduced in 1813.

The metalwork is in very good condition overall, retaining an attractive aged surface that remains mostly bright with scattered areas of old peppering. The brass furniture has developed a mature mustard colored patina and shows no evidence of recent aggressive cleaning.

The English walnut stock is likewise very well preserved, with a rich aged red brown color and an old waxed finish. The wrist remains strongly checkered, and the stock retains the characteristic swelling around the lower ramrod pipe together with the bannister rail style butt profile associated with earlier Brown Bess influenced construction. There are some cracks or deep scratches along the right side of the fore end, but no major structural loss is noted.

Both sling swivels remain present. The ramrod is in very good condition and retains its original worm at the narrow end, an especially useful surviving accessory on a private purchase flintlock arm of this period.

With its circa 1813 date, Ketland & Adams lock marking, Birmingham commercial proofs, matching No. 5 barrel and ramrod markings, .65 caliber smoothbore configuration, swan neck cock, checkered English walnut stock, brass furniture, complete sling swivels, and worm tipped ramrod, this is an especially appealing British officer’s private purchase fusil from the Napoleonic era. The faint lock marking, scattered old peppering, and cracks or deep scratches to the right fore end are all fully disclosed. It would fit particularly well in a Napoleonic Wars, British flintlock, Ketland, officer’s arms, Brown Bess related, or advanced early 19th century firearms collection.

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1813
Maker: Ketland & Adams
Caliber: .65" Pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 39 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 55 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

"Brown Bess" is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's muzzle-loading smoothbore flintlock Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. The musket design remained in use for over a hundred years with many incremental changes in its design. These versions include the Long Land Pattern, the Short Land Pattern, the India Pattern, the New Land Pattern Musket, and the Sea Service Musket.

The Long Land Pattern musket and its derivatives, all 0.75 inches caliber flintlock muskets, were the standard long guns of the British Empire's land forces from 1722 until 1838, when they were superseded by a percussion cap smoothbore musket. The British Ordnance System converted many flintlocks into the new percussion system known as the Pattern 1839 Musket. A fire in 1841 at the Tower of London destroyed many muskets before they could be converted. Still, the Brown Bess saw service until the middle of the nineteenth century.

Most male citizens of the thirteen colonies of British America were required by law to own arms and ammunition for militia duty. The Long Land Pattern was a common firearm in use by both sides in the American War of Independence.

In 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars, the United Kingdom subsidized Sweden (during the period when Finland was under Swedish rule) in various ways as the British government anxiously wanted to keep an ally in the Baltic Sea region. These included deliveries of significant numbers of Brown Bess-muskets for use in the Finnish War of 1808 to 1809.

During the Musket Wars (1820s–30s), Māori warriors used Brown Besses purchased from European traders at the time. Some muskets were sold to the Mexican Army, which used them during the Texas Revolution of 1836 and the Mexican–American War of 1846 to 1848. Brown Besses saw service in the First Opium War and during the Indian rebellion of 1857. Zulu warriors, who had also purchased them from European traders, used them during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. One was even used in the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, during the American Civil War.

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.

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, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. 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. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.