Info on British Gun Maker

[Michael Van Keuren]

I recently purchased a Pattern 1777 short land musket. Looking for any info on the name of ( Thos Lee ) which is inscribed under the royal crown on the lock.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
A picture of the lock and the gun would be really helpful.

dave

 

[Michael Van Keuren]

Hi,
A picture of the lock and the gun would be really helpful.

dave

Have not received the gun in the mail yet. Will post more photos when received and cleaned. Hope this Wii do in the time being.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Michael,
Thanks for the photos. My impression is that it is a private purchase or private contract musket. The lock does not have the crown over arrow stamp indicating crown ownership of the gun so it may have been purchased for a volunteer unit. I don't come up with any references to a Thomas Lee as a gun maker in Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. There was a Thomas Lee gun maker in Birmingham during the 1840s but that seems late. During the late part of the American Rev War, there was a great shortage of British arms. Ordnance contracted with Belgian makers in Liege and the crude engraving of the crown on your could indicate that. However, it should also have a large "GR" engraved under the crown instead of Thos Lee. During the French Revolution wars there were many scares of invasion of Britain by the French and privately funded volunteer units formed for defense. The same happened during Napoleon's reign. They often purchased arms privately. Your may be one of those guns.

dave

 

[Michael Van Keuren]

Will provide more and better photos after I receive the gun and are able to clean it up and remove the lock.