Item Description
Original Item: One of a Kind. Just received out of an old collection, where it had sat untouched for many years. Aside from a wipe down, we have left it as found, with all the patina 200+ years has left on it. This is a very rare Germanic flintlock musket, as used by the Hessian soldiers in the employ of England during the Revolutionary War. It has the correct brass mounts and style of lock for German muskets of the time. There is a trace of a proof mark on the top of the barrel, which we cannot identify, but is definitely not an American or British one. The lock plate is also unmarked.
The musket is in very good shape, considering the age, showing that this was most likely left behind or captured during the war, and then left in attic collections for some time. The top jaw of the hammer is missing, and the jaw screw is broken, and frozen in place. The oxidation on the area indicates that it happened quite some time ago, so it's very possible that this rifle broke, and was discarded. Of course it's equally possible that it was dropped sometime later, but the lack of major powder burn suggests that this musket was not fired much during service.
It comes complete with its original ramrod, which is somewhat crudely made. The fore stock is missing some of the securing pins, so it is somewhat loose.
A very nice Revolutionary War Musket, ready to restore or display as is!
More on Hessian Soldiers:
Hessians were German soldiers who most notably served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. Although characterized in American popular narratives as mercenaries, jurists of the time drew a distinction between auxiliaries and mercenaries: auxiliaries served their prince and were sent to the aid of another prince, while mercenaries served a foreign prince as individuals. By this distinction, the troops which served in the American Revolution were auxiliaries.
Hessians were contracted by the throne of Great Britain and others in several 18th-century European wars, including the Irish Rebellion of 1798, but are most widely associated with the American Revolution. Around 30,000 German soldiers fought for the British during that conflict, a quarter of the troops sent to British America. The term Hessians is used by Americans to refer to all German troops fighting on the British side, a form of synecdoche, as 65% came from the German states of Hesse-Kassel and Hesse-Hanau, while the remainder were leased from other small German states. The Hessians were led by Wilhelm von Knyphausen, entering British service as entire units, fighting under their own German flags, commanded by their usual officers, and wearing their existing uniforms.
The use of German troops to suppress a rebellion in the British colonies angered American activists, and one of the 27 colonial grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence was "transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries"
Year of Manufacture: circa 1770
Caliber: .75"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 41 Inches
Overall Length: 56 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.
- This product is available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.
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