Massive 55" barrel American flintlock musket with original bayonet - $3500.00
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Massive Revolutionary War era flintlock musket with original bayonet. Unlike most firearms of this length, this is no gentleman's fowling piece that he might have carried during an alarm, but a heavy fighting gun 20% bigger than a British Long Land musket it might have clashed against. The 55" barrel has a classic silver teardrop front sight, only set back from the muzzle to accommodate the bayonet. Standard .75 caliber bore. London proofed barrel signed in script "London" with lock having an obscured script signature. Lock reconverted to flintlock with nicely aged parts. Attractive fan carving around barrel tang, plain brass buttplate, engraved triggerguard, and nicely shaped sideplate. Bayonet represents classic early American construction with "shield applied" shank to socket, equally unusually large construction with blade 1.5" wide, 14-3/4" blade and 17-3/4" overall. The bayonet has a rich untouched patina, and a waviness to the blade as a consequence of poor tempering having been done by the blacksmith makers that caused them to bend when placed under stress.
Metal parts have a patina overall with some scattered pitting, primarily in the barrel breech, and the triggerguard lightly cleaned at some point. Stock is expertly refinished to conceal repair and restoration. The wrist is slim and elegant for any gun, but especially one this large, seems to show a slight line where it was repaired. The forestock has about 20" of restoration, perfectly spliced and colored, after much inspection, we cannot find the place where it was done, but indications are between the ramrod entry pipe, which is original, and the middle pipe, which is a reproduction. Wood shows a small crack by the rear lock screw and some minor chipping along the forearm edges. Nice antique, possibly original ramrod with iron cleaning worm on end. Action of cock shows wear, but is still functional. Sold as a collector item only, not warranted safe to shoot.
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