This American naval blunderbuss is a crude amalgamation of brass and iron components to assemble a working firearm. The walnut stock appears to be the remains of a one-time swivel gun, evidence by a side hole once used for supporting a “Y” yoke to turn a swivel gun. The lock is an early 18th century Queen Anne pattern lock found on English muskets from the 1715 era. The brass trigger guard and side plate are also taken from an earlier English firearm. Two crude iron straps nailed to the stock retain the typical flared “trumpet mouthed” barrel found on a blunderbuss. Worn British markings appear near the breach of the barrel - making the barrel an earlier English barrel. The overall crude construction of this blunderbuss is typical of the makeshift weapons assembled early in the war. The barrel flares to a diameter of 4.1 cm at the muzzle.
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
Date
c. 1750-1780
Rights
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Identifier
VAFO 177
Original Format
Photograph
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The Chestnut stock secures the iron barrel held by iron pins through the underside of the barrel. The barrel is Dutch manufactured, removed and reused from an earlier Dutch weapon by the Americans. The brass furniture includes an English-style trigger guard, butt plate, and five convex rammer thimbles which secure the rammer. Like many American muskets, particularly early in the war, this firearm was assembled from odd parts or an English contract musket. The barrel is stamped “54.”
This American Flintlock Musket illustrates the ingenuity of the American colonists to assemble firearms from various components and available firearms, early in the war. The musket is patterned after the English Land Service Musket, a weapon American colonists recognized and used as a pattern for their own military firearms.
The Chestnut stock secures the iron barrel held by iron pins through the underside of the barrel. The barrel is Dutch manufactured, removed and reused from an earlier Dutch weapon by the Americans. The brass furniture includes an English-style trigger guard, butt plate, and five convex rammer thimbles which secure the rammer. Like many American muskets, particularly early in the war, this firearm was assembled from odd parts or an English contract musket. The barrel is stamped “54.”
The colonial brass pommel head of this example is better defined than many. It is formed from two vertical shells joined at a median seam and secures the wooden grip which does not taper, but provides grooves for steep curving ropes of brass wire. The double-ended counterguard has symmetrical pierced designs that vary sufficiently to identify unskilled hand work. Its curving European blade bears engraved panoplies of arms, as well as the common 18th century "narrow and wide" fuller combination: 1/8" x 20 1/2"; 5/8" x 24 3/4".
George C. Neumann, Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, (Harrisburg: Stackpole Books, 1973), 102. (122.S)
Date
c. 1770-1780
Rights
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Identifier
VAFO 322
Original Format
Photograph
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The iron furniture of this American rifle demonstrates a European influence. The lock plate includes an incorrect rounded cock on the flat lock plate. The wood rammer is secured by two iron pipes.
This “Mountain” rifle offers an excellent example of these crude mountain-style American Rifles made in the back country of the southern colonies. The wood stock features a unique “grease hole” in the butt which held thick grease used to lubricate the cloth and leather bullet patches. This maple stock supports a .66 caliber barrel pinned to the stock by iron pins through the underside of the barrel. The barrel offers an unusual squared shape running from the breech of the barrel for 22 cm toward the muzzle, then turning round to the muzzle.
The iron furniture of this American rifle demonstrates a European influence. The lock plate includes an incorrect rounded cock on the flat lock plate. The wood rammer is secured by two iron pipes.
A stirrup-type hilt is again present on this sword. Its ivory grip has a 3/4" ferrule at the base, and a cap pommel. The elliptical counterguard was apparently cut from a flat piece of brass; it has three decorative piercings opposite each side of the blade, including crude stamped decorative borders. Note the wavy edge on its outboard side, while the inboard surface is smooth (probably to decrease wear on the pants). Its American blade (uneven fuller; iron imperfection) has a single edge and one fuller (1/4" X 17 1/2").
Such a pattern would probably date from the 1730-1740 period in Europe. In this case, it is believed to be an American hilt. Allowing for the normal delay before new styles gained acceptance in the colonies, a 1740-1750 dating has been estimated. The polished wooden grip has never been covered, and the two ridged ferrules plain steel hilt, except for a single incised (crude) line tracing the edge of both of the guard's shells. The European triangular blade has concave faces.
This French fusil includes a walnut stock which secures the iron barrel using three brass barrel bands. The stock is surcharged “U STATES” on the butt stock, signifying government ownership by the young United States. This practice was adopted by 1778 to identify government property and to deter soldiers from taking firearms home upon the termination of their military service. The bands are decorated with an engraved scrollwork design along the edges of the bands. The fusil's barrel is crudely stamped “1777” on the barrel tang. The brass furniture includes a trigger-guard plate, flat side plate, and French-style butt plate with short rounded tang. The fusil mounts a French 1754 model lock plate and flat goose-neck cock.