American Flintlock Musket
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.”
Caliber: .78
Weight: 9.8 lbs.
Length: 58"
Barrel: 42"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
c. 1775-1780
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 139
English India Pattern Musket
This style of English flintlock musket is commonly referred to as the Third Model Brown Bess. This model was adopted in 1797 by the English government, years after the American Revolution, but continued features of the standard shoulder weapon issued during that war.
The musket's English walnut stock supports an iron barrel which is pinned to the stock after standard English practice on 18th century weapons. The barrel on this late 18th century model measures 39 inches in length. The top of the barrel is clearly stamped with the heart-shaped “EIC” markings of the East India Company. Additional barrel markings include “WILSON 1779.” These marks represent the London lock maker Richard Wilson. Other barrel markings include English government proof stamps and “RW.” The round iron pins which secure the barrel to the stock are located below the barrel and run into the wood stock. The brass furniture of this 3rd model “Brown Bess” musket is patterned after the English government's Short Land Pattern model and includes a trigger-guard plate, butt plate, and a rounded side plate. The iron rammer is secured under the stock by three brass thimbles. The musket's lock plate is stamped “WILSON” forward of a gooseneck-style cock. The lock also includes a heart-shaped stamp “EIC” and “1779” behind cock. These lock markings are quite similar to the matching barrel markings. The lock includes a wood practice flint in jaws.
Caliber: .75
Weight: 9.2 lbs.
Length: 54 3/4"
Barrel: 39"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
c. 1779
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 110
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
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
English Militia Musket
To help meet the need for military firearms during the French and Indian War, the English government approved this model in 1756 for issue to marine units and the domestic militia.
This musket is patterned after the early naval variation of the English Short Land Service Muskets. The English walnut stock supports the musket's iron barrel which is pinned to the stock following standard English practice. The stock butt is crudely carved with the letters “E*D” which may be the initials of the musket's owner at one time. The brass furniture includes a trigger-guard plate, flat side plate and a shorter tang on the stock's butt plate. Three brass thimbles retain the musket's wood rammer under the barrel. This militia model also omits the standard escutcheon wrist plate usually found on the top of the stock's wrist. The butt plate is engraved with the British “fraction”, “E/8.” These marks usually represent a company or regimental issued marking
Caliber: .78
Weight: 10.0 lbs
Length: 57 1/2"
Barrel: 42"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
c. 1756
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 108
French Infantry Musket
This model offered advanced improvements in French musket design during the 18th century which would carry into the Napoleonic War years. The earliest muskets of the 1777 model were issued to forces under General Rochambeau's Army who arrived in America in 1780.
The musket includes a walnut stock which supports an iron barrel held by three iron barrel bands. The iron furniture includes the three barrel bands, trigger-guard plate and butt plate with a short rounded tang. A new feature of this model 1777 musket includes finger ridges added to the trigger-guard plate for better handling. The iron rammer includes a trumpet-style end. The musket's lock plate includes another new feature of this 1777 model, a non-corrosive brass flashpan. This model also included a recessed cheek rest cut into reverse stock comb
Caliber: .69
Weight: 8.8 lbs
Length: 59 7/8"
Barrel: 44 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. 1777
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 125
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
German-Dutch Musket
This musket of German manufacture, displays a myriad of both Dutch and German manufactured components, hence the identification as a German-Dutch Musket.
The musket's stock mounts an iron barrel held to the stock by iron pins which run through the stock and the underside of the barrel. The barrel includes a large raised elliptical front sight, a common feature on German 18th century muskets. The brass furniture includes a German-style trigger-guard plate, raised side plate and end butt plate secured by two large rounded screws. The iron rammer is secured by four brass thimbles under the stock. The iron lock plate is flat and includes a faceted flashpan, another common German design feature.
Caliber: .78
Weight: 10.8 lbs
Length: 50 3/8"
Barrel: 42 1/8"
Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.
c. 1770-1786
George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park
VAFO 135