Possible African Trade Flintlock with Bayonet?

[FlinterNick]

http://www.icollector.com/British-Commercial-India-Pattern-Brown-Bess-Musket-with-Bayonet_i17061658

.72 bore

Some good history markings etc

 

[FlinterNick]

Here’s a trade musket by Ketland at .65

https://www.prices4antiques.com/Rif...ercial-Brown-Bess-Hudson-Bay-Co-E8923824.html

I’m wondering if the barrel was from another gun.

 

[cositrike]

Here’s a trade musket by Ketland at .65

https://www.prices4antiques.com/Rif...ercial-Brown-Bess-Hudson-Bay-Co-E8923824.html

I’m wondering if the barrel was from another gun.

Would appear to be a trade musket, not a commercial Brown Bess. There are lots of guns out there that look like the Brown Bess style, but they aren’t Bess’s. As far as I’m aware, there are no ommercial or ordinance Bess’s with 62 or65 barrels, but just to be certain, I’ll check with DeWitt when I next see him. I’ll also have a chat with David Harding to see if any of the East India Company Bess’s had a smaller bore.

 

[FlinterNick]

S

Would appear to be a trade musket, not a commercial Brown Bess. There are lots of guns out there that look like the Brown Bess style, but they aren’t Bess’s. As far as I’m aware, there are no ommercial or ordinance Bess’s with 62 or65 barrels, but just to be certain, I’ll check with DeWitt when I next see him. I’ll also have a chat with David Harding to see if any of the East India Company Bess’s had a smaller bore.

Something to consider..... many Brown Bess style guns were built with surplus parts and restocked. The type of stock might tell a different story.... if maple or cherry these are generally not military grade stocks.

Sometimes small details such as sling swivel placement and types of furniture screws and pin locations help too.

 

[cositrike]

S


Something to consider..... many Brown Bess style guns were built with surplus parts and restocked. The type of stock might tell a different story.... if maple or cherry these are generally not military grade stocks.

Sometimes small details such as sling swivel placement and types of furniture screws and pin locations help too.

I’m fine with that. There are all sorts of guns out there, either put together because it was necessary in time of war, or someone had some bits they fancied putting together, but, there are, as far as I am aware, no commercial, or military Brown Besses with 20 gauge barrels. That is the point of my reply to you.

 

[FlinterNick]

I’m fine with that. There are all sorts of guns out there, either put together because it was necessary in time of war, or someone had some bits they fancied putting together, but, there are, as far as I am aware, no commercial, or military Brown Besses with 20 gauge barrels. That is the point of my reply to you.

I once had a purchased (then resold) what was called a British Trade musket, the lock was by 'King' who made commercial muskets for the HBC, a very good lock. The barrel was bored to .69, I suspect the barrel was a surplus American Musket Barrel or French Barrel. The breech was not turned and there were short flats, the tang was bullet shaped too, it was sold off as a commercial musket for fur trading parties. The barrel was also stained brown.