Hi folks. First time poster here looking for info on identifying flintlocks, two pistols and a musket. I was directed here by the folks at[url] doublegunshop.com[/url].
My boss brought them to the office and asked me to find out anything I could about their age and/or where they were made. And of course, “How much are they worth?” I haven't a clue about these guns other than what I read on the internet, so bear with me. All three are inoperative and in rough shape.
#1 is a pistol with rifled bore, round barrel 14" long, no proof marks except for a "77" (or LL upside down) on a band that goes around the end of the wood and the barrel. That band is about midway between the breech and the muzzle. It has a brass trigger guard and grip cap. No engraving is visible anywhere and no checkering anywhere. Bore is 0.60". It has a blade sight near the muzzle. Missing the ram rod.
#2 is also a pistol, but has a smooth bore of 0.60". Barrel is a tad less than 7" long and is six-sided (can't remember the word for that, but it's not octagonal). Barrel and trigger guard are brass. There's a little bit of engraving here and there and the name "SHARPE" on the lock plate and "LONDON" on the top of the barrel. Wood extends all the way to the end of the barrel. Missing the ram rod. Trigger guard tang extends back along the grip normally and in front of the guard is decoratively shaped like a torch or a pineapple sitting in a fancy vase. There is no cap on the end of the grip. Nice checkering on the grip.
#3 is a long gun. I guess you'd call it a musket, as it's a smooth bore. Diameter is 0.70". It appears to be a military gun; there's a bayonet on the muzzle. It comes off with a twist and pull to get the "h" shaped slot of the rear of the bayonet over a protrusion on the barrel. Barrel is 41.5" long. One piece stock extends to within 3" if the muzzle, leaving room for the bayonet ring to slide onto the barrel. There is an oval brass escutcheon inletted into the wood at the top of the grip and a fair amount of gold or brass wire inletted into the wood around it in a fancy pattern. This wire thread is also inletted into the underside of the stock about half way to the muzzle. The trigger guard tang extend to the rear about 5" and to the front about 2", again in a fancy "pineapple in a vase" fashion. Bayonet is 16" long and essentially triangular in cross-section.
I know all this sound dumb, but knowing nothing about these guns makes it impossible for me to focus on the right features. If they were side by side shotguns, I'd feel more knowledgeable. But I may as well be describing a nuclear reactor. The guns belong to a family in the Boston area but the boss does not know how long they have been in the family. I'm in central NC.
So, any takers out there? Or is there a suggested expert in my area that could provide help? Thanks in advance.
My boss brought them to the office and asked me to find out anything I could about their age and/or where they were made. And of course, “How much are they worth?” I haven't a clue about these guns other than what I read on the internet, so bear with me. All three are inoperative and in rough shape.
#1 is a pistol with rifled bore, round barrel 14" long, no proof marks except for a "77" (or LL upside down) on a band that goes around the end of the wood and the barrel. That band is about midway between the breech and the muzzle. It has a brass trigger guard and grip cap. No engraving is visible anywhere and no checkering anywhere. Bore is 0.60". It has a blade sight near the muzzle. Missing the ram rod.
#2 is also a pistol, but has a smooth bore of 0.60". Barrel is a tad less than 7" long and is six-sided (can't remember the word for that, but it's not octagonal). Barrel and trigger guard are brass. There's a little bit of engraving here and there and the name "SHARPE" on the lock plate and "LONDON" on the top of the barrel. Wood extends all the way to the end of the barrel. Missing the ram rod. Trigger guard tang extends back along the grip normally and in front of the guard is decoratively shaped like a torch or a pineapple sitting in a fancy vase. There is no cap on the end of the grip. Nice checkering on the grip.
#3 is a long gun. I guess you'd call it a musket, as it's a smooth bore. Diameter is 0.70". It appears to be a military gun; there's a bayonet on the muzzle. It comes off with a twist and pull to get the "h" shaped slot of the rear of the bayonet over a protrusion on the barrel. Barrel is 41.5" long. One piece stock extends to within 3" if the muzzle, leaving room for the bayonet ring to slide onto the barrel. There is an oval brass escutcheon inletted into the wood at the top of the grip and a fair amount of gold or brass wire inletted into the wood around it in a fancy pattern. This wire thread is also inletted into the underside of the stock about half way to the muzzle. The trigger guard tang extend to the rear about 5" and to the front about 2", again in a fancy "pineapple in a vase" fashion. Bayonet is 16" long and essentially triangular in cross-section.
I know all this sound dumb, but knowing nothing about these guns makes it impossible for me to focus on the right features. If they were side by side shotguns, I'd feel more knowledgeable. But I may as well be describing a nuclear reactor. The guns belong to a family in the Boston area but the boss does not know how long they have been in the family. I'm in central NC.
So, any takers out there? Or is there a suggested expert in my area that could provide help? Thanks in advance.
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