The barrel is marked "PERKIN PHILADA" on top and has London proof and view marks flanking a "crown/RW" (used by Richard Wilson, his son, and his grandson) hallmark on the left. The lock is unmarked. Joseph Perkin (1737-1806) was an English immigrant in the late colonial era and was an active gunmaker, retailer, and part-time firearms inspector during the American Revolution. He worked in Philadelphia and at the Rappahannock Forge near Falmouth, Virginia, and helped established the Harpers Ferry Armory and served as its first superintendent/master armorer in the late 1790s. A pistol owned by Samuel Hodgdon, General George Washington's quartermaster, has "I PERKIN" and "I PERKIN PHILADA" markings. The side plate, thumb plate, trigger guard, and buttplate tang have traditional shell and scroll engraving. The stock has molding lines along the forend, slight swell at the entry pipe with incised scrolling, shell and scroll patterns around the breech, and a thick butt. The thumb plate is similar to those found on Brown Bess muskets and Wilson trade fusils. It has a round blade front sight and slight groove at the breech for a rear sight.

Very good. The barrel and lock, which has been crudely reconverted back to Flintlock configuration, have dark gray and brown patina, extensive oxidation, and mild pitting. The pan is not properly aligned with the vent. The brass has attractive aged patina. The buttplate has been reattached using additional nails and screws. The repaired stock is fair. There is a large section of material cut away at the back of the lock inlet, the flats are spliced, cracked, and chipped. There are also some chips and cracks around the butt. Mechanically fine. This is definitely an imposing early firearm and an attractive example of the long fowling guns used by our forefathers.