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AMERICAN COLONIAL ASSEMBLED MUSKET UTILIZING VERY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
AMERICAN COLONIAL ASSEMBLED MUSKET UTILIZING VERY

EARLY PARTS INCLUDING AN "AR" MARKED DOGLOCK BY T. FORT. Cal. 74. NSN. Bbl. 47 7/8" tapered rnd., has wedding ring transition 11 1/2" from breech end & attaches to stock at rear w/ long screw from below in early fashion. A bayonet stud is added at an early date 1 1/2" behind muzzle, 2 old dovetails & a bayonet mounting slot are also present, otherwise bbl. is unmarked but does have sighting groove at breech end. Good quality dog lock has arched flat chamfered plate w/ pronounced teat at rear, attaches to stock w/ 3 bolts in early fashion. Lock features flat faced early cock w/ slight reinforce matching simple dog, interesting inset faceted pan w/ 3 vents, unbridled friction frizzen & feather spring w/ fleur-de-lis finial. Lockplate under pan is engraved “AR” (Anne Regina 1702-1714) under a crown flanked by 2 stamped crowned broad arrows. Tail of lock is engraved w/ maker’s name “T. FORT” (Thomas Fort working 1683-1714 in London) over "7" (1707). Internal inspection shows unbridled tumbler & 2 stamps: an “H” in a heart cartouche & a crowned “7”. Trigger is of very early style w/ curled finial. Stock is 1770's style is of maple & is mounted w/ handmade brass furniture including sheet brass buttplate affixed w/ square nails, forged & filed long sideplate & relatively simple cast triggerguard. An iron ramrod is held by 3 beaded pipes & matching tailpipe. Raised field around bbl. tang is stamped “14” & the name “J. DANFORTH” (Colonial & Revolutionary War pewter maker in CT) is branded on right side of butt vertically 1/2" from buttplate. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Collector photos & card. CONDITION: fair to good w/ considerable restoration. Bbl. w/ old cleaning shows subsequent dark brown patina. Cleaning highlights at breech end are over pitting. Touch hole is enlarged. Lock w/ old cleaning shows some bright highlights but is mostly dark gray. All parts appear to be original, cock screw missing, top portion of notch of cock chipped off. Markings are sharps & clear. Lock does not fit well against bbl. Mainspring has had top portion ground away to better fit bbl. Stock retains most of a shiny oil finish w/ some newer distress marks & shows considerable restoration at top front of lock & w/ front 32" of bbl. channel a modern replacement. Any early marked dog lock musket is exceptionally rare. PROVENANCE: CW Slagle, pictured & described, pg. 6 "Firearms in American History", C.G. Worman; Collection of James B. Taylor. ANTIQUE. (01-20500/JS). $7,000-9,000.