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Details
LOT 0296
Tower 'Brown Bess' Musket and Bayonet
CIRCA 1800 A.D.
68 in. (4.60 kg, 173 cm with bayonet).
Napoleonic era musket with 93cm (36½") smooth-bore barrel of .75" bore with London proof marks, the lockplate with 'TOWER', 'crown-over-G R' and inspection marks; fitted with full wood stock stamped 'S' and 'IR' to left side and butt with brass butt plate, trigger guard, ferrules, fore-end and sideplate; fitted with sling swivel loops and steel ramrod with cleaning rag eye; action working well in half and full cock, with correct steel socket bayonet.
Provenance
Acquired from Andrew Bottomley, UK, 2014.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
Accompanied by copy of the invoice and listing.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.204080.
Footnotes
The 'Brown Bess' musket, in several versions, was the standard British infantry longarm from about 1736 to 1838; some were later converted to the percussion system.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.
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