Lot 3314: 1761 Dated British Royal Artillery Flintlock Carbine

This carbine is featured on pages 251 of "American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms" by George Moller and categorized as a Type I Royal Artillery Carbine. He notes that some of these carbines may have been captured by the Patriots during the American Revolution and references a letter written by Benjamin Franklin and dated May 27, 1776, in which he notes 1,000 carbines with bayonets had been captured at sea and landed in Boston. It is signed "IORDAN" and dated "1761" on the lock which also has the engraved Georgian cipher and an Ordnance mark. The barrel has a small front sight that doubles as the bayonet lug, faint "ROYl ARTILLERY" marking on top, and a "flower/RI" maker's mark on the left at the breech. The stock has brass furniture similar to the Land Pattern muskets but scaled down, and Moller's discreet "GDM" collection mark is by the toe. It has a later iron ramrod with trumpet head in place of a wooden ramrod and is fitted with a black leather sling. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Good with dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, deep aged patina on the furniture, moderate pitting at the breech, and general mild wear. The refinished stock is also good and has the usual scratches and dings, some cracks, repairs in the forend, and smooth finish. The lock slips the full-cock notch but is otherwise fine.