Lot 3312: British Long Land Brown Bess Flintlock Musket with Bayonet

This musket is pictured and discussed on pages 215-218 of "American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms" by George D. Moller and has his discreet "GDM" collection mark twice near the toe. The "banana" profile lock has the Georgian cipher at the center along with an Ordnance mark and "TOWER/1740" at the tail. The barrel has a bayonet stud/front sight and faint markings at the breech that include "51." The stock has "E~D" neatly carved on the left side, a storekeeper mark on the right, and a small inspector stamp behind the trigger guard. The furniture is brass. It has a wood ramrod with brass band at the tip, a socket bayonet, and a black leather sling. These muskets were the main British infantry arms of the 18th century. Being dated 1740, this musket may have seen use in several historically significant conflicts, including the Jacobite Rising of 1745, French & Indian War/Seven Years War, and American Revolution. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Good with a dark brown blend of aged patina and applied brown on the barrel, gray and brown patina on the lock which has legible but faint markings, pitting concentrated at the vent, period replaced cock, aged patina on the brass furniture, one loose replacement ramrod thimble, chipped muzzle, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has general mild scratches and dings, a few cracks and chips, and generally relatively mild wear for this model. The bayonet is also fine and has gray and brown patina and minor pitting. Mechanically fine. This is a rare and desirable documented Long Land Pattern Type I musket complete with a bayonet.