Help identifying percussion-converted musket

[Benjamin_Martin]

(PICTURES ATTACHED BELOW)

Hey guys, I was referred to your subforum from another one, they said I could probably find more information here. Recently, I bought what was advertised as a Second Model Brown Bess from a small dealer up in New England. He said he picked it up at an estate sale in Connecticut.

The stock, buttplate, and trigger/triggerguard are all correct for what a Second Model Brown Bess should have, and the dimensions are correct from what I was able to find online. However, there are a few notable differences that caught my eye. First, the musket has the addition of three brass bands along the barrel which are more-so attributed to the Charleville, and their patina makes them look roughly the age of the brass pieces standard for a Bess. Also, on the barrel there are no standard British markings, only a “P” with a star in the center of the loop and a small line separating the rest of the barrel from the thin metal piece that attaches to the screw. The lock was originally flintlock but was converted to percussion, I’m assuming during the Civil War. However, the lock is flat instead of rounded, typical for guns made in the colonies as opposed to ones made in England.

I’m not exactly sure on the caliber, but the barrel diameter is a little bit smaller than the barrel of my Pedersoli Brown Bess (barely though). The end of the barrel looks like it could have been cut some and the bayonet foresight is only one inch from the end of the barrel as opposed to the Pedersoli having it a little more than two inches away from the end of the barrel.

The musket in question currently has a barrel length of 41.5 in and an overall length of 57 in

Could this possibly be a Committee of Safety “parts” gun? Any help would be greatly appreciated. For reference, the

 

[bpd303]

I'm sorry but your pictures are so dark, I can't discern any details. Might try with better lighting or outside in sunlight.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

I'm thinking it's a New England milita musket. Probably 69 cal. 1820's-1830's. Front sight is also the bayonet lug. This would have been issued to a militiaman, and pulled double duty as a game getter.

 

[Clark Badgett]

I think you got definitive answers in the other thread. There are no correct Brown Bess parts of any model on this musket. Sorry, this gun is not as advertised and probably not even fully of the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

[Millford_P]

I'd also agree that it lies somewhere in the 1815-1835 range. Possibly from the Worcester MA area, but that's mostly a wild guess.

One giveaway is how the lower barrel band fits inside onto a ridge in the stock, similar to a Springfield musket. Not something you see as often in the 18th century, but super popular in the 19th. The lock also looks like an english import lock, smaller than a military grade type, more popular on American muskets in the early 19th century.

 

[Clark Badgett]

I'd also agree that it lies somewhere in the 1815-1835 range. Possibly from the Worcester MA area, but that's mostly a wild guess.

One giveaway is how the lower barrel band fits inside onto a ridge in the stock, similar to a Springfield musket. Not something you see as often in the 18th century, but super popular in the 19th. The lock also looks like an english import lock, smaller than a military grade type, more popular on American muskets in the early 19th century.

The band shelfs are found on Maubeuge made M1768 muskets and all US muskets from 1795 forward.