A rare East India Company brass-barrelled flintlock large pa...

Estimate

£3,100 - £3,500

A rare East India Company brass-barrelled flintlock large pattern musketoon, 39" overall, part octagonal barrel 22½” with bell mouth muzzle having a bore of 1½”, the breech engraved with E.I.C. heart mark and “WILSON 1770”, and bearing Tower private proofs, maker’s poincon “RW”, and an Indian inscription on the left flat; the flat Light Infantry small pattern lock having typical “pot-bellied” ring-neck cock and bearing lion rampant mark, date 1812, and crown over “2” inspector’s mark; the walnut stock having cheek-rest on the butt, no hole for swivel mount, late type brass mounts including Baker’s pattern trigger guard with spurred grip, butt-plate tang stamped “98/L.I./37”, iron ramrod, and sling swivels. Good working order and condition, an untouched piece. (the lock very slightly worn). The barrel is from the “large” musketoon as listed in contemporary E.I.C. inventories, as opposed to the “small” musketoon, and the original old-style stock would have had the high hand-rail, probably provision for a swivel, and Sea Service pattern brass mounts. It was brought up-to-date in 1812 with the more modern type of stock and mounts and the small size Light Infantry musket lock. This appears to be of a distinct type not specifically listed “Small-Arms of the East India Company, 1600-1856” by D.F. Harding. At quite a late date it was advocated that musketoons should be used on East Indiamen for firing down from the tops of the rigging, hence having no need for the swivel. £3,100-3,500