A VERY GOOD+ AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR “EMERGENCY PRODUCTION” AMERICAN-USED SECOND MODEL/SHORTLAND PATTERN 1779-S BROWN BESS MUSKET, ca. 1779: In very good+ untouched, original flintlock condition. Of standard Shortland Pattern “Second Model” Brown Bess design. Sighted, 42″, iron, pin-fastened, .78 caliber barrel with a faint vestige of its Board of Ordnance “centerline” proof mark, on the top of the baluster turned breech. Regulation, Board of Ordnance inspected, molded and carved, walnut fullstock with a raised carved “beaver tail” apron behind the barrel tang and a pronounced lobe at the ramrod entry-pipe. Marked in the ramrod channel and behind the trigger-guard with several Acceptance/Inspector’s marks. An “R” marking, behind the sideplate and the right face of the butt-stock with the faint outline of its Board of Ordnance Storekeeper’s mark. Regulation, Untouched, Pattern “1779-S”, Shortland-Pattern, brass mounts: the Key feature being the Raised “S”-shaped Sideplate without a tail: a design which reduced production time, due the emergency needs of the ongoing Revolutionary War. The buttplate with a pin-fastened three-stepped tang, the trigger-guard with a raised hazelnut finial and a rear screw for the shield wrist-escutcheon (bears faint vestige of a removed? Unit/Rack No.). Pin-fastened nose-cap and four (4) ramrod pipes: the second pipe of “Pratt’s Improvement”: indicates manufacture, ca. 1779. (For information, Please see D. Bailey’s: “pattern Dates…” and Anthony Darling’s: “Redcoat and Brown Bess”). Untouched and richly patinated, Pattern 1777 lock with two (2) screws behind the gooseneck hammer with “Wartime” notch, on its spur (please see “Pattern Dates…”, pg. 15). The lock-face with signs of Revolutionary War/Period American effacement/removal of the engraved Crown/”GR” Royal Cypher and its “TOWER” markings. In very good+, untouched original flintlock condition with deeply toned, dark, steel surfaces with some patches of discoloration and light scattered pitting. The stock with 75%+ finish, generally sharp contours, some scattered handling marks, signs of use, light abrasions, tight hairlines and wear. Untouched barrel with a rich, russet-toned patina, generally smooth steel surfaces and some scattered moderate pitting at the breech: fine touch-hole. The lock with untouched dark surfaces, its Wartime notched hammer, its teardrop finial frizzen-spring, a very good powder-pan with signs of heavy use and wear and the frizzen, en suite: the noted American Revolutionary War Period effacement/removal of the English Royal markings. In mechanically functional order with a strong mainspring and fine timing. Very good mounts with nicely toned brass surfaces. Replaced iron ramrod of improper length. The sling swivels removed, as was often the practice of the American Soldiers, during the Revolutionary War. Overall length, 58″. A very good Revolutionary War Production, Pattern 1779-S, Second Model Brown Bess Musket with evident signs of American “Wartime” usage/alteration. The Pattern 1779-S Shortland Musket was the “Emergency Production” longarm accepted by the Board of Ordnance, ca. 1779 to arm the British troops fighting the Americans. Its reduced hardware made the musket quicker to produce and therefore less costly. *** For similar examples, please see George C. Neumann’s: “Battle Weapons of the American Revolution”, pg. 68 and Bill Ahern’s: “Muskets of the Revolution”.
Images and description courtesy of Paul’s Antique Arms & Armour at: http://www.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms.htm