Lot 129: British William III Period Matchlock Musket with Forked Rest

This musket is pictured and discussed on pages 36-37 of "American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms" by George D. Moller. He list it as a "William III period (1688-1702) English matchlock musket. Its configuration is typical of British military muskets of the late 17th century. (Robert Nittolo Collection.)" Moller also states: "There is a round red wax seal under the forearm, forward of the trigger guard. This appears to be an Ordnance seal designating this musket as a pattern to be followed in the subsequent manufacture of muskets. The barrel is smoothbore, has no sights, and has a smooth transition from round to octagon. The top has an early Ordnance proof/view stamp. It has a serpentine side plate with three screws securing the convex lock which has a pointed teat at the tail, a fence, and a pan cover with a long arm. The furniture is iron and includes two sheet iron forend bands, a ramrod entry pipe, trigger guard with bulbous finial, blank oval wrist escutcheon secured by two screws, and an sheet buttplate. The stock has raised flats, a raised "bar" around the upper tang with a divided box stamp, and a rounded butt. Includes a forked musket rest. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Very good with silver gray and light brown patina on the iron throughout, minor pitting, repaired forend band, separation at the breech/barrel tang, and general mild wear. The partially conserved stock has an older dark applied finish, some subtle repairs, moderate scrapes and dings throughout, some insect holes and lines, and a few chips and cracks. Mechanically excellent. The rest is very good with dark patina and moderate wear on the wood including stable cracking.