FLINTLOCK identity help required

[jpc]

Just purchased a flintlock long gun and would be interested in a little information on it.
LOCK MARKED TOWER
BARREL STAMPED P (BIRDS HEAD stamp) and MLM
BARREL LENGTH 42 AND MEASURES .690 AT MUZZLE
like to include picture, but haven't figure how to yet
jpc
ps; IS THERE AN ANTIQUE SITE I SHOULD BE ON????

 

[Tumblernotch]

Need more info, but from what you've described, it sounds like a US musket barrel with P & Eagle Head stamps (should also have a V near the P), on a stock with a British musket lock. Sounds like a parts gun. Some pictures would really help.
:thumbsup:

 

[jpc]

Has P only well stamped no sign of a V.
Happy to send pictures, but do not understand how
Happy to email you some if you like
Paul
[email protected]
ps: thanks for your help

 

[jpc]

Picture of lock

 

[Stumpkiller]

Here are three links to muskets, two with an eagle "P" mark and all with "MLM" barrel marks.
http://www.prices4antiques.com/fir...ck-Contract-Waters-1822-Lockplate-C225570.asp
http://www.invaluable.com/auction-...ket-model-1812,-69-cal.,-42-ba-1-c-eaiac4f0bm
http://www.artfact.com/auction-lot/fine-early-flintlock-militia-musket.-1-c-48cr1g4iri

MLM is a U.S. militia mark, but that would not have a Tower lock, could be someone's attempt at "1950" in Roman Numerals. Moses L. Morse was a U.S. inspector from 1822 to 1824.
http://proofhouse.com/cm/us_inspector.htm

But, anything he inspected would have had a double-throated hammer and not a "Tower" lock; though the lock may be a replacement from 175, 75 or 25 years ago.

Impossible to tell from the image whether it is an original, repro or assembly of old parts.

Are there three metal bands around the barrel?

 

[jpc]

Hi and thanks for the help

I will get better pictures posted and more description.

 

[jpc]

The gun has no barrel bands

 

[jpc]

 

[jpc]

 

[jpc]

 

[jpc]

 

[jpc]

 

[jpc]

NEW ENGLAND FLINTLOCK MUSKETS 1800-1830's sometimes had English locks according to Flayderman

 

[Stumpkiller]

Looks like a Third Model ("India Pattern") Bess lock but the trigger bow isn't quite right and the caliber is wrong. The entry pipe is Bess style, too, but the buttstock is not. The .69 would be a carbine caliber - dragoons or Light Infantry, but again the stock architecture is wrong. Many British units were equipped by the officer who purchased a commission and who's to say what they bought for their troops.

That trigger is familiar but I can't place it.

Could be something put together in a hurry for a militia unit.

I'm beginning to think it's a knock off of an English musket. If it were "real" the crown would have initials inside it "GR" - Georgus Rex for King George, etc.

 

[JV Puleo]

A very conventional militia musket ca. 1820-30 made from a mixture of surplus or condemned parts (barrel) and imported parts (lock and trigger guard). Very few NE militia muskets have sling swivels, all carried bayonets and all that I've handled (maybe 200 of them)had English import locks. This large size lock isn't uncommon...I saw such a musket only this weekend at a small local show. It likely never saw the Tower of London...that marking is just there because people associated it with good quality. Without seeing the barrel I wonder what is wrong with it though because it should have gotten the "V" stamp before the "P" stamp if its a federal inspection. Probably 1/2 of the militia muskets I've seen had barrels made by Asa Waters and carry the Massachusetts proof of Luke Harrington although there were other and earlier Massachusetts barrel makers and quite a few more official inspectors.
Massachusetts dropped the requirement that everyone eligible for militia duty keep his own gun in 1832 and very few, if any were made after that date.

 

[thewho66]

I would go with a mixed parts source the trigger gaurd looks to be a fowler/civilion, not military. It could have been a private purchase for an officer I have seen pics that would match up to that as well.

 

[jpc]

 

[jpc]

 

[Mike Brooks]

Post 1800 new england militia musket.

 

[jpc]

Then I take it that Moses L. Morse had something to do with these muskets?

Thanks
jpc