{"product_id":"original-british-napoleonic-era-officer-private-purchase-65-caliber-brown-bess-style-flintlock-fusil-by-thomas-ketland-co-marked-no-8-circa-1813","title":"Original British Napoleonic Era Officer Private Purchase .65 Caliber Brown Bess Style Flintlock Fusil by Thomas Ketland \u0026 Co., Marked No. 8, Circa 1813","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original British Napoleonic era officer private purchase .65 caliber smoothbore flintlock fusil by \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThomas Ketland \u0026amp; Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, dating to approximately 1813. Built in the general style of the Brown Bess but on a lighter and smaller scale, it has a 38 1\/2\" round barrel, measures approximately 54 1\/8\" overall, and retains its original flintlock configuration, brass furniture, sling swivels, and early pattern English Walnut stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivate 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock is clearly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT\u003cbr\u003eKETLAND\u003cbr\u003e\u0026amp; Co\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the marking for Thomas Ketland, a highly successful Birmingham gun maker. He started working about 1740, and founded his own business around 1760, which then expanded into the export market around 1790. His business continued following his death in 1816, eventually ceasing operations in 1821.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a good portion of this time, his son William Ketland was a partner in this firm, but left it to start his own company in 1800, W. Ketland \u0026amp; Co. Following his death in 1804 the name was shortened to \u003cem\u003eKetland \u0026amp; Co.\u003c\/em\u003e, and it operated for decades under this name before finally folding in 1831. The Ketland Companies over almost 100 years transacted a tremendous amount of business both domestically and abroad.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock retains a swan neck cock, reinforced frizzen bridle extending to the pan, and flash guard to the rear of the pan, typical of the Napoleonic period. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top of the barrel breech is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e№ 8\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel additionally bears the \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ CROSSED SCEPTERS \/ B P C\u003c\/strong\u003e \"proof\" over \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ CROSSED SCEPTERS \/ V\u003c\/strong\u003e \"viewed\" markings from the gun company of Birmingham, which were introduced in 1813.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork is in very good condition overall, retaining an attractive aged surface. The barrel displays past peppering in areas, and there is some past pitting and erosion concentrated near the muzzle area. There is also some powder residue associated oxidation near the touch hole, and on the flash pan and hammer, while the rest of the lock displays a lovely gray oxidized patina. The brass furniture has developed a mature mustard colored mottled patina and shows no evidence of recent aggressive cleaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe English walnut stock is likewise very well preserved, with a rich aged red brown color and an old waxed finish. The stock retains the characteristic swelling around the lower ramrod pipe together with the banister rail style butt profile associated with earlier Brown Bess influenced construction. There is a scratched along the right side of the fore end, with a crack running forward from the upper lock screw. but no major structural loss is noted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth sling swivels remain present. The ramrod is in very good condition and retains its original threads at the narrow end, an especially useful surviving accessory on a private purchase flintlock arm of this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its circa 1813 date, T. Ketland \u0026amp; Co. lock marking, Birmingham commercial proofs, No. 8 barrel marking, .65 caliber smoothbore configuration, swan neck cock, English walnut stock, brass furniture, complete sling swivels, and threaded ramrod, this is an especially appealing British officer’s private purchase fusil from the Napoleonic era. The past oxidation near the muzzle, scattered old peppering, and scratches and crack on the stock are 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYears of Manufacture: Circa 1813\u003cbr\u003eMaker: Ketland \u0026amp; Adams\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .65\" Pistol\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Lead Ball \u0026amp; Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 38 1\/2 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 54 1\/8 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Flintlock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle-Loaded\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNOTE: 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45736460025925,"sku":"ONJR26AURA12","price":2395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/36CCCEE0-3103-4B4D-8A78-2131ECC280C7.jpg?v=1789152608","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-napoleonic-era-officer-private-purchase-65-caliber-brown-bess-style-flintlock-fusil-by-thomas-ketland-co-marked-no-8-circa-1813","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}