Dating to the mid-17th century, this musket is similar to the example pictured and discussed on pages 41-42 of "American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms" by George D. Moller. That example is noted as "very similar to arms made in Aix-La-Chapelle in the 1650s and known to have been sold to other German and Swiss states. Aix-La-Chapelle, or Aachen in German, is located in western Germany, contiguous to the borders of Holland and Belgium. Germany near present-day borders of Holland and Belgium." The smoothbore barrel has a blade front sight and a later brass notch rear sight. The flat lock has a rounded teat at the tail and no markings. The lock screws have stag-horn washers. The iron trigger guard has a scooped out section below the trigger, and the trigger plate also incorporates a safety at the rear that locks the trigger forward. The full-length "paddle butt" stock appears to be beech with a dark finish and has sheet brass ramrods pipes, forend cap, and buttplate. There are remnants of an old collection label on the bottom behind the trigger guard and a "><" marking a little further back.
Good with dark brown patina on the barrel, mostly dark gray patina on the lock and trigger guard, some mild pitting, aged patina the brass, and general mild overall wear. The refinished stock is also good and has general scratches and dings, a crack on the right below the wheel, and several more minor hairline cracks. Lock not tested.
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