Massechusettes militia musket

[DTZuc]

Hello- I'm new to the forum, but not to the hobby. I recently purchased a smoothbore musket with an original english tower lock. It conforms to the shape of a brown bess, but is a total of 53 inches long and about .78 caliber. I beleive it to be a massechusettes style militia musket. My question is about the side plate opposite the lock. It does not have a plate, but rather just two brass inlets where the screws are inserted holding the lock in place. The forward inlet is in the shape of an acorn. Does anyone have any idea what that represents? Any thoughts/ help would be appreciated.

Zuc

 

[Okwaho]

Pictures would be nice and I can't tell you much more except that it is "probably" either some kind of restock or a composite gun.I have not a clue as to what a "Masachusetts" style militia musket would look like.Militia muskets were brought from home by the individual militiamen so that a militiaman could have almost an kind of gun. You may be confusing the gun with a committee of safety musket from Massachusetts.The likilihood of this being the case is extremely remote,something on the order of hen's teeth.The British stopped using the date and contractor's name after 1764 but with a composite gun that doesn't matter much since the replacenent of locks was done frequently.
Tom Patton

 

[crockett]

There is a book by Robert M. Riley(I think that's the correct name) it was published a few years ago by an outfit in Rhode Island. The title is something like U.S. Military Flintlocks, Etc. There is an assortment of all the various Committee of Safety Muskets, State by State, that may help. You can probably get the book on an interlibrary loan. There are no pictures, only sketches. Also try the NRA museum in DC. If you can't find the book send me a PM and I'll go get the exact details.

 

[crockett]

Here's the deal:
U.S. Martial Flintlocks by Robert M. Reilly, published by Mowbray Books(Men at Arms Magazine) Lincoln, RI 02865. 1-800-999-4697. They publish a lot of good books.

 

[DTZuc]

Thanks for the thought and help. I have the book, and unfortunately it does not explain the acorn. It does give me enough information to make me beleive it is made of the Massechusettes Militia Musket guidelines. The acorn is just very interesting. If I had to guess I think it may be a symbol from a region or of ethnicity like Pennsylvania Dutch. I just have no documentation that helps.

Zuc

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

What you likely have is what is generically called a "New England Militia Musket" by collectors. They date from the 1790 - 1830 period. They were in use all over the northeastern US during this time and genertally conform to the shape of the Brown Bess but have civilian flavored furniture like the lock bolt esctchions that you mention. Trigger guard and butt plates will vary from the BB as well. They are fairly common and are usually in .69 caliber but may be as large as .72. Best to measure the bore 4 or so inches down from the muzzle to get an accurate measure of bore size unless the gun is pristine. As mentioned above, pictures would help, especially of any barrel and lock markings.

 

[crockett]

This is sort of unchartered water for me but are the acorns original? If there was a side plate it seems there would be some evidence. Also, on the lock, is there any inspection marks, etc that may indicate a date? On some of the U.S. stuff you can take various marks and the dates of employment of inspectors, etc and often get pretty close to the date of manufacture. Also, try the gun report- they may have a name or two of someone familiar with this item. There may have been a New England gunsmith that used acorns and contracted for this musket- the weapon could then possibly be traced in that manner.