Muskets of this basic pattern are listed as having been among the arms purchased by Benjamin Franklin in Holland for the American war effort in "Weapons of the American Revolution" by Moore, and one is listed as a "Dutch Fusil Musket" in "The History of Weapons of the American Revolution" by Neumann referring to the lighter build and smaller bore size compared to the .75 caliber Brown Bess muskets. Dutch muskets were used by both sides during the war, and surviving examples with markings from multiple of the former American colonies are known, including Massachusetts which purchased thousands of Dutch muskets through Benjamin Franklin. It has a bayonet stud on the bottom of the barrel, blade front sight at the front of the dual upper barrel band, "J RouSseau/a amsterdam" signed on the lock (Johannes Rousseau active in Amsterdam c. 1780 - 1805 per the Rijksmuseum and around 1775 in "Der Neue Stockel"), an unclear marking that appears to include "8" on the barrel at the breech, nice raised carving around the barrel tang, Brown Bess style side plate, a plain oval wrist escutcheon, "No 30" inscribed between the two screws on the buttplate tang, and a trumpet shaped iron ramrod.

Very good with mostly a crisp gray and brown patina on the barrel and lock along with some light pitting. The brass has attractively aged patina. correct and in its original flint configuration. The stock is also fine and has some old repairs in the forend and above the lock along with some small chips and the usual dings and scratches throughout. The lock has a replacement mainspring that is a bit weak and a refaced frizzen and is functional.