The muskets manufactured in 1775-1776 under the auspices of local Committees of Public Safety for use in local defense during the Revolutionary War were among the earliest "U.S." muskets. Most were essentially "provincial" copies of the Brown Bess muskets used by the British and the colonies throughout the 18th century. No more than 10 or 12 of the identifiable muskets are known to have survived until today. Those generally accepted as identifiable "Committee of Safety” muskets are dateable to the 1775 or 1776 and have markings for known Committee of Public Safety contractors and/or other identifying local government markings. See pages 70-73 of "Weapons of the American Revolution" by Moore for some identified examples. Others, such as this musket, may well have been made under the auspices of one of the committees or otherwise manufactured for use during the war but elude identification due to their lack of visible markings. Similar muskets were also manufactured in the early national period for militia use by various gunmakers. The musket has no visible identifying markings, a small bayonet stud on top of the barrel, a Brown Bess socket bayonet with traces of a "U" near the bottom of the blade (possibly "US"), "girdles" at the breech similar to a Brown Bess, a non-standard colonial made or imported 7 inch long lock with non-bridled pan and an internal bridle, mostly Brown Bess style furniture of somewhat lower quality than is usually found on a British made muskets but that is in keeping with arms made in the colonies and early republic, irregularly spaced upper ramrod pipes, and a generally Brown Bess style hardwood stock with slight bulbous swell at the ramrod entry pipe, the raised plateau around the barrel tang, long wrist, fluted comb, more drop in the butt like a fowling piece, and no thumb plate. A collection marking is on the trigger guard.

About good as partially restored with applied brown mixed with natural dark brown patina, dent on top of the barrel a few inches from the muzzle, mild oxidation and pitting, chipped muzzle, aged patina on the brass, some repairs on the forend, somewhat loose lock mortise, a few cracks, and general scrapes and dings. The cup/nose of the tumbler nose was repaired, and the lock is mechanically fine.