Page 86 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 164
Documented French and Indian War Era 1761 Dated British Brown Bess Long Land Pattern Flintlock Musket by Vernon with Bayonet - NSN, 75 cal., 46 inch round bbl., brown/bright finish, walnut stock. This is a very scarce example of a British Long Land Pattern musket manufactured during the French & Indian War and Seven Years’ War. The Seven Years’ War is considered by many historians to be the first world war and the cost of both conflicts and resultant British policies after the war are credited with pushing the American colonies to fight for their independence. These long land muskets would have been used by both the British military and some colonial militiamen against the French and their Native American allies, and remained the primary weapon of the British troops at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and were also captured and used by many American patriots during the Revolution. During or prior to the Revolution, many were altered to the more manageable and officially standard Short Land Pattern barrel length of 42 inches, with this example still retaining its original 46 inch barrel length. Long Land Pattern Type II muskets are described on pages 219-223 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume I” with this exact musket pictured on pages 219, 221 and at the top of 222. Features a front sight that doubles as a bayonet lug, an iron ramrod, brass ramrod ferrules and end cap, 6 1/8 inch brass side plate, brass trigger guard, unmarked brass wrist escutcheon, fluted comb, and brass buttplate with 5 3/4 inch long tang. “VERNON/1761” marked at the tail of the lock and a “crown/GR” Georgian royal cipher marked at the center. Crown proofs on the breech and lock. “10xRCON38” carved in the right of the buttstock. Small “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a socket bayonet marked with a “crown/9” proof above “DAWES” on the blade, and a later Swiss leather sling. CONDITION: Good, exhibiting a mix of applied refurbished brown finish and brown patina on the barrel, scattered light pitting overall, mild flash pitting, and crisp markings on the lock. Stock is also good with scattered cracks and absent sections on either side of the barrel channel, chips around some of the barrel retaining pins, some mild chips and a crack ahead of and behind the lock along, a chip ahead of the front lock screw, a crack ahead of the rear lock screw, some chips behind the barrel tang, some cracks around the butt, and a repaired section at the toe. Mechanically needs work, will not stay in full cock. Included bayonet is good with scattered moderate pitting. Overall a nice representative example of a historically significant British Long Land Pattern Brown Bess. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 165
Late 18th Century Regimental Marked Clark Volunteer Short Land Pattern Brown Bess Flintlock Musket - Serial no. 146, 75 cal., 42 bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Several other “NY” marked Clark muskets are known with different numbers and slight variances in patterns (India vs Short Land). Several have come out of the Hampden House collection in Buckinghamshire, England. They are believed to have been issued to English volunteer units (possibly the Northamptonshire Yeomanry) around 1790. There are several Clarks active in the late 18th century gun trade, but it is believed that these were manufactured by Wattel Clark of 133 High Holborn, London. Wattel Clark began his apprenticeship in 1770 and was active until around 1815. It features a standard bayonet stud that doubles as a front sight, “LONDON” marked on top of the barrel, ordnance proofs flanking an “SI” stamp on the upper left of the breech, “CLARK” marked lock, “146” marked on the brass side plate (the fit of the side plate is slightly off ), “48” marked in the wood ahead of the buttplate tang and “N=Y/37” marked on top of the brass buttplate tang. A small “X” is deeply carved into the left stock flat. CONDITION: Very good plus with smooth mottled brown surface patina and some light pitting on the otherwise bright metal
surfaces showing through and nice markings in the metal. Stock is very good as arsenal refurbished, with scattered scratches and dents, a crack ahead of the trigger guard finial, a crack on the left behind the barrel tang, the small carving mentioned above, and slightly undersized at the toe of the buttstock. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 166 Scarce Early 18th Century Queen Anne British Land Pattern Flintlock Musket with Plug Bayonet - NSN, 75 cal., 41 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. George Moller noted this as a “British Land Pattern Musket with Dutch metal components, circa 1702-1714.” It has a rounded brass blade front sight, notch rear sight, “crown/B” or “crown/R” mark on top at the breech, a partially unclear maker’s mark that includes an “H” on the left at the breech, “crown/AR/I” cipher engraved on the lock along with another unclear mark between the frizzen spring, “ES” on the trigger guard finial, raised carving at the upper tang and flats, and nearly full-length stock with brass furniture. Includes a plug bayonet with a stamp of a king or queen on the blade and a wood handle that is tapered to fit the bore. CONDITION: Good with silver-gray patina and moderate pitting on the lock and barrel, mix of polished surfaces and aged patina on the furniture along with some soldered repairs on the side plate and trigger guard, and moderate overall wear. The refinished stock is also good and has some chips and slivers absent or repaired at the edges, repaired cracks in the breech section, some gaps around the lock mortise and barrel tang, mild dings and scratches, and some loss at the toe. The full-cock position needs work; otherwise mechanically fine. The bayonet is good with nicks at the edges, mottled patina and oxidation, moderate wear on the handle, and cracks at the rear. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS VOL. I BY MOLLER
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