English Long Land Service Musket
This English Land Service Musket follows the design of the standard shoulder weapon issued to the British foot soldier during the early decades of the 18th century. The English walnut stock supports the musket's iron barrel which is pinned to the stock. The three round iron pins run through the stock and barrel. The brass furniture includes the trigger-guard plate, rounded side plate and an elongated butt plate over the stock butt. The brass thimbles secure the musket's wood rammer under the barrel. The wood rammer is possibly the original rammer issued with the musket. The musket includes the early “banana-style” lock plate which is stamped with the lock manufacturer's name “R Watkin.”
Caliber: .75
Weight: 9.8 lbs.
Length: 62 1/8"
Barrel: 46"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
c. 1730-1740
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 106
German Wheel Lock
This German Wheel Lock Rifle has iron furniture and a wood rammer with bone tip that 'snaps' into channel below stock. Cherrywood stock includes sliding patch box in butt with snap closure. Bone nose cap and side plate washers. Bridged trigger guard with finger loops. There is a bone disc inlaid in reverse stock 'IHS' symbol. Complete wheel lock ignition system only missing spanner wrench to wind discs.
Caliber: .75
Weight: 5.6 lbs.
Length: 33 5/8"
Barrel: 22 3/4"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. 1980.
c. 1590
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 164
German Matchlock
This matchlock uses a walnut stock to mount an iron barrel which is secured under the stock by means of a set screw. The mounting screw reaches into the barrel tang. The iron furniture of this matchlock includes a round steel barrel which is secured by underneath screw reaching to tang of barrel. The rounded trigger bar activates the serpentine which includes 125 CM of original hemp rope. The matchlock includes original German markings on the lock.
Caliber: .73
Weight: 7.8 lbs.
Length: 53 1/2"
Barrel: 39 3/8
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. 1980.
c. 1600-1630
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 165
English Long Land Service Musket
This English Long Land Service, first model “Brown Bess,” Musket was the standard shoulder weapon of the British foot soldier during the 18th century. Although the “Brown Bess” musket would undergo three model variations during the century, its styling and visual appearance changed little.
The English walnut stock supports an iron barrel which is held to the stock by round iron pins under the barrel. The barrel is stamped on top “ROYAL WELSH,” representing the famed English 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. This musket incorporates the typical brass furniture and components of the early land pattern muskets. This brass furniture includes the early trigger-guard design, an elongated butt plate, rounded side plate, and four brass rammer thimbles. The butt plate is marked, 'Lt. Colo Waite'. Vertically within a shield behind the cock it is stamped “TOWER 1728”. The lock plate is also stamped with an English crown and “GR” forward of the cock. The brass wrist escutcheon plate is stamped “B/N9”.
Caliber: .77
Weight: 9.4 lbs
Length: 62 1/8"
Barrel: 46"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
c. 1728
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 105