American Assembled Artillery Carbine From The Revolutionary War – SOLD

Description

American Assembled Artillery Carbine From The Revolutionary War.

How to refer to this musket/carbine is difficult, since so few exist, but, using the term, “American Assembled Musket” seems appropriate. Having purchased the piece at the Sturbridge Antique Arms Show,  just days ago (June 10/22),  I found that in the two days I owned it, there was no clear opinion at to what it was actually.  Some thought a wartime parts weapon, some post Revolution, some thought the barrel had been cut down, while others shrugged without truly knowing. I hit the books the following Monday, and found what answers I needed to be completely comfortable in calling this a wartime made carbine utilizing American, British, French, and Dutch parts. Moller’s work mirrored most other references consulted, so I choose to use his here to illustrate the weapon.

Here is the nomenclature, before the description for easier reference:

Length :  52 1/8″

Barrel:  36 1/4″  – British Artillery Carbine.

Caliber:  .75

Lock:   6 1/2 x 1 1/2″  – French Pattern 1717.

Trigger guard:  9″  – American with crudely fashioned finial.

Butt Tang:  3 1/2″  – American.

Side Plate:   5 1/2″  – American.

Nose cap:  Dutch with slot to allow bayonet catch to extend forward.

Ramrod:  31″  – Steel, and most likely American. 

Ramrod pipes:  most likely American from different manufacture.

Furniture:  Brass

Wood:  Maple with some tiger graining to the buttstock.

Weight : 8 1/2 lbs. 

Overall length :  52 1/4″ 

 

The Royal Artillery carbine described on pages 251-253 in Moller’s American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol. I, states that in “the mid 1750’s the artillery apparently undertook its own defense against enemy infantry and cavalry…..The first documentary reference to a specific shoulder arm for the artillery was in 1752, when some artillery units were issued carbines with bayonets, that had been altered from “cavalry carbines.”……..In September 1757 the Board of Ordnance directed that a reserve of 50,000 “Carbines with bayonets, for Artillery and Highlanders” was to be kept in the Tower of London. (standing companies in the various Highlander regiments had been issued Long Land Pattern muskets, but it is believed that the 9 additional companies of these regiments were issued the carbine).”  The National Archives has a letter by Benjamin Franklin to the U.S. Commissioner in Canada dated May 27, 1776, “regarding the capture of British military stores at sea. In the letter, Franklin comments: “I congratulate you on the great prize carried to Boston……..and 1000 carbines with bayonets, another fine article.”…….Although it is not known to which specific British carbine Franklin referred, it probably was either the Royal Artillery carbine or the 1765 light dragoon carbine, because they had 36″ to 38″ barrels and were equipped with bayonets.” (1)

The barrel, as stated is 36 1/4″, and is original length. When fitted with the 2nd model bayonet, it fits perfectly. The bayonet stud is unquestionably original with initial manufacture. “The (Type II) carbine was introduced in the late 1760’s or 1770 and is equipped with a steel ramrod and a double upper thimble with a flared mouth.” (2)  This piece has a steel ramrod, flared at the end; seemingly crude toward the other end, and could be either American or British. The forward pipe has a minor flare and purely American in manufacture.

This barrel has been stocked in American maple with a typical cherry colored finish with some tiger stripping found on the bottom of the buttstock, and fastened to the stock with 4 iron pins. (forward pin missing).  The barrel has a ding just forward of the nose cap on the right side of the piece.   The original lock to this piece is from what I can determine, a pattern 1717 French military lock which was slightly altered by removing on the two vertical lines on the rear of the lockplate.  The Frizzen is probably not French. The stock has the typical swell at the rear pipe area, and comb is nearly identical to that of the original British design, except for the wood being in maple.

The furniture overall is American, save the Dutch nose cap. The butt looks similar to a British Marine type, but is crude in comparison. The rear butt screws show a good deal of wear; the top is smooth, and the lower tip is broken away and a period nail is added for tightening.

Markings on the musket are few; London proofs on the barrel; barely visible marking remaining on the face of the French lockplate, and the capital letter “A” stamped on the inside on the lock.  Having the lock out, this has not seen any reconversion work ever.  There are some hammering marks that I can’t explain, but the patina on and around them is period. The mechanics are very good, with the hammer locking up on the two tumbler notches. The frizzen matches perfectly, and would not allow any powder to escape the pan.  Patina overall is untouched.

The wood has some cracks; one extending toward the swell in the forearm, a few smaller forward and beneath the front of the lock extending back toward the trigger guard finial, one from the forward side plate screw through the swell, The last two are from the nose cap on both sides extending back (see photos for all of these).

I believe the correct terminology on this piece is an American rebuild from available parts of a British Artillery carbine. Most post war rebuilds are found with U.S. markings in both metal and wood. Not all perhaps, but this carbine shows too much wear not to accept it as a gun produced during the Revolutionary War. Whether or not it was used by American troops as an artillery or dragoon carbine is unknown, but the carbine is the genesis of this scarce Revolutionary War shoulder arm.

A perfectly fine representative of an American used Artillery (perhaps dragoon) used carbine in untouched condition in every way.  This carbine is photographed in Flayderman’s Antique Arms Price Guide (3).

(1)  American Military Shoulder Arms by George D. Moller, Vol. I,  pages 251-253

(2)  same.

(3)  Flayderman’s Guide To Antique American Firearms and their values. 9th Edition, page 729 (bottom gun).