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Revolutionary War Musket-Part II

drh4208
Please see previous post from 3/29/09 which has pictures. I did not realize that each picture constituted a response which would decrease the opportunity to hear input from people with expertise. I have also posted on forum at antiqueguns.com. It is implied that without hard documentation of lineage of gun, it's worth is greatly diminished. Since it has been passed down before someone dies, there is no probate record of ownership of gun.
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5 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    This documentation of lineage, is better known in collectors circles as provanance. It basically means the authentication of a firearm by tracing it's ownership history.


    I believe in your previous post you noted that the musket has been in your family since revolutionary times. If you are able to trace your families history back 200+ years, it will go a long way in helping to authenticate the musket.
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  • lcdrdanr
    I wouldn't have thought provenance would be that critical for something that "is what it is". I mean, it might be that if you can prove a particular weapon was owned by "Deadeye Dick" and used at the Battle of Whatever, it might enhance it's collector value somewhat but I wouldn't think not being able to prove it would seriously detract from the value.
    Have you thought about offering them a polaroid picture of the actual rifle in use during a revolutionary war battle ? I actually saw that in an ad one time, an old rifle purportedly from the Revolutionary War with a photograph of the original owner in uniform carrying the rifle into battle. Some people don't have a clue !!!!
    I seriously doubt whether even 10% of firearms from the 1700's have any written documentation proving a "chain of custody". I think you will find condition, maker and markings will be far more important than who had it when.
    Dan R
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  • Spider7115
    The experts were not implying that the lack of provenance diminishes the value of your musket. They meant that a story about your gun being used at the Battle of Bunker Hill or anywhere else without irrefutable documentation is simply that: a story or a family legend spanning over 200 years. Stories passed through the generations commonly becomes distorted or embellished as the relic is passed along. You have a nice musket and it very well may have been used at Bunker Hill. However, a collector's motto is and always has been: "Buy the gun and not the story" unless provenance is attached.
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  • rhmc24
    A bit of info about what it is, etc. It is a German type probably brought in by Hessian mercenaries for the English during the revolution. As a musket, it should have a barrel length of about 42-44 inches and about .80 caliber(a little over 3/4 inch). A lot of variation is found among the Hessian guns but they all have its 'family resemblance' of flat lock plate, wavy side plate with many nuances impossible to describe in words. A 'fusil' or light musket would be the same but of smaller dimensions. There was no standardizaton because they came from the many disconnected German political landgraves of the period.

    If you can give dimensions of lockplate, barrel, bore, overall, etc it might be possible to give more focused info.

    edit Worthwhile noting that there is quite a lot of info in two books "Weapons of the American Revolution" both same title one by Neumann other by Moore back in the '60s probably collector items now.
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  • Spider7115
    I opined that it was of British or American origin due to the Douglas-marked barrel but I'm sure he would appreciate any and all opinions. Nonetheless, it is an interesting piece.
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