Kit Ravenshear French Muskets

[nit wit]

I have a French Marine & Colonial Musket. My booklet is marked # 17 79 (I believe 1979)
Fusil de Grenadier From Tulle 1734?
My friend has a KR musket the lock is marked 17 85 (1985)his lock does not have a bridle so I believe it's a copy of a 1728 French musket.
How close am I on this?
Thanks
Nit Wit

 

[Stumpkiller]

I had a Kit Ravenshear Light Infantry Carbine made in 1990 that had a lock marked "GRICE 1758"

 

[Feltwad]

I had a Kit Ravenshear Light Infantry Carbine made in 1990 that had a lock marked "GRICE 1758"

If it is the same man I bought from him spare parts this was in 1965 he then worked for Normans and sons Gun makers Of Framlingham Suffolk UK
Feltwad

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
The model 1728 has a bridle from the pan. The model 1717 has a vertical bridle much like on a snaphaunce lock.

dave

 

[nit wit]

SK:
Whats it say inside the lock?
Nit Wit

 

[Grenadier1758]

I had a Kit Ravenshear Light Infantry Carbine made in 1990 that had a lock marked "GRICE 1758"

"Grice"? Isn't that a Light Infantry Carbine that is patterned on a British Land Pattern Musket?

 

[Artificer]

I had a Kit Ravenshear Light Infantry Carbine made in 1990 that had a lock marked "GRICE 1758"

"Grice"? Isn't that a Light Infantry Carbine that is patterned on a British Land Pattern Musket?

William Grice was a noted British/Birmingham Gun and Lock Maker who supplied guns and locks to British Ordnance Department over many years. So his locks and guns show up in many British Military Guns.
https://birminghamcathedral.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/william-grice-the-gunmaker/

Gus

 

[Stumpkiller]

No idea what it said inside the lock. Never took a picture that I recall or wrote it down (image would have been on 35mm film, and Lord knows where it may be or if it was). I sold it to, of all people, Hunter Kirkland (Turner's son) in 2005 or so. Sorry. Sometimes we have to do things we later regret. But I did make a small profit. ;-)

Kit was a Tower of London armorer at one time and moved to New Berlin PA. I had the great good fortune to meet him twice and spend a very nice afternoon with my wife and he and his wife in his home. The drool just poring out the corners of my mouth at the guns he had in his shop or photo albums. He was a wonderful man.

He found an original bayonet to fit my reproduction carbine (42", .66 bore) and charged me the lordly sum of $15 for it.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Feltwad,
Yes kit worked at Norman's and then I believe he may have owned that business for a while before moving to Canada and then the US. Prior to Norman's, he was an officer in the British Army, then a policeman, and then a full time gunsmith. He helped recreate the French marine muskets currently used at Fortress Louisburg and supplied recreations and restorations to other historical museums in the US such as Valley Forge and Sturbridge Village. Kit was one of my cherished mentors during my early wet nosed years of gun making. I learned most of what I know about 18th century British and French military small arms from Kit.

dave

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Dave,

Did you meet Maurice Taylor in your travels?
He made up some of Kit's muskets and worked with Kit at one time.
I think he wound up with some of his parts as well. He's in NZ.

 

[nit wit]

I was at a colonial show this weekend in Portsmouth NH and a KR collector spoke with him about his. Kit made 20 that sold to the public and that man has 8, I have one and my friend has one. They are marked with roman numerals in the rammer channel.
There are 10 more out there unaccounted for!
Nit Wit

 

[spudnut]

I know one floating around that is counterfiet,short bess with brass and iron fittings, It was my first bess,I sawed it off and a friend bought it and reworked the lock added a wood rammer and the iron bits,then signed the barrel with someone elses( you know whos) name or he just took credit for it,did Kit engrave his name on the barrel?

 

[nit wit]

Kit did not engrave the barrels on the Frenchys, I doubt if he did on the Besses.
Nit Wit

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Wasn’t there one for sale at the Portsmouth Colonial sbow for $1,800 asking?

 

[Feltwad]

Hi Feltwad,
Yes kit worked at Norman's and then I believe he may have owned that business for a while before moving to Canada and then the US. Prior to Norman's, he was an officer in the British Army, then a policeman, and then a full time gunsmith. He helped recreate the French marine muskets currently used at Fortress Louisburg and supplied recreations and restorations to other historical museums in the US such as Valley Forge and Sturbridge Village. Kit was one of my cherished mentors during my early wet nosed years of gun making. I learned most of what I know about 18th century British and French military small arms from Kit.

dave

Enclosed is a image of Normans display room when Kit worked there I believe it was 1965.
Feltwad
Normans of Framlington

 

[dave_person]

Hi Feltwad,
Thank you for that photo. I wish I could have visited that store. I was very fond of Kit.

dave