(A) A RARE PATTERN 1769 SHORT LAND FLINTLOCK MUSKET

A rare and highly desirable Short Land musket in its original flintlock configuration, regimentally marked to the 2nd Battalion of the 71st (or Fraser’s) Highland Regiment of Foot. 1,000 stands of Short Land muskets were authorized and issued to the 71st’s two battalions in 1776 and literally delivered to the regiment—already dispersed aboard transports in the fleet—just before they departed to America. This regiment was perhaps the hardest-fighting regiment in the British Army during the Revolutionary, its battle honors including Long Island, White Plains, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Guilford Courthouse, and Yorktown. The sighted, 42-3/8" long, tapered round barrel of 0.79 bore is marked at the top of the breech with Ordnance view and proof marks and a maker’s mark to its left: * / IW and "71 REGT. 2D B" forward of the Ordnance markings; the tang has a sighting groove filed into it and has a crown stamped at its end. Convex lockplate, 1-1/4" x 7", with two-line border and marked with crown / GR cipher and broad arrow inspection mark before cock and “TOWER” across the tail. Brass mountings of standard Short Land form, including buttplate, flat sideplate, trigger guard, four ramrod pipes, nosecap and thumbpiece, the latter engraved "B / 61". Figured 3/4 stock with handrail butt and carved “beavertail” apron around tang, with ‘S’ stamped in wood behind sideplate, inspection marks and ‘G’ behind the trigger guard and ‘VI’ stamped in the ramrod channel. The sling swivels are original and ramrod appears to be a period replacement, with ‘449’ stamped beneath the button end. CONDITION: Lock in good working order; some scattered light freckling to the iron components, the barrel a russet brown patina with moderate pitting around the vent, and the with the remainder of the iron components a mottled, gunmetal grey; the cock is a later replacement; the stock evidences some light refinishing, the wood in good condition overall, with a few light dings. JLK Barrel Length: 42 - 3/8" Caliber/Bore: .79 Smoothbore FFL Status: Antique Manufacturer: Tower Model: Flintlock Musket Serial Number: NSN