Rack Numbered Barnett Contract British Carbine Bore Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol

War of 1812 / Napoleonic Wars

.67 caliber. 12" pinned barrel. NSN. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot flintlock muzzleloading smoothbore pistol made without sights. 5.5" flat short sear spring, post-1777 pattern lock with an and externally unbridled integral rounded and fenced iron pan and a flat reinforced cock. Lock is marked BARNETT under the pan and has a weak engraved date that appears to be 1761, although the first and last digits are almost illegible. Top of barrel with British Board of Ordnance proof marks, including a {CROWN}/GR/{BROAD ARROW} and {CROSSED SCEPTERS}. The bottom of the triggerguard is crudely engraved with the rack number B/23. A large VI is stamped into the counterpane of the pistol. Matching file slash mating marks are present on the bottom edge of the lock, in the ramrod channel of the stock and on the lower right edge of the barrel, below the touchhole. The overall form of the gun is a sort of strange combination of the Pattern 1703 style stock and 12" barrel with a later post-1750s flat "S" side plate and a post-1777 pattern lock. More than likely the pistol was assembled for service during the Napoleonic Wars period, when the need for small arms was extreme and the following of official patterns was somewhat less important than simply churning out functional firearms, particularly for use by Canadian militias during the War of 1812 period and for the use of other British colonial and partner forces. The lock date, in combination with the short sear spring, is somewhat incongruous, but may be an indication of reusing some older parts and bringing some features up to the new standards. Includes a modern wood ramrod that is secured by a single brass pipe.

Fair to good. Bore is dark, dirty, heavily rusted and pitted. Metal shows moderate oxidation and scattered pitting over most of the surfaces and a dull grayish-brown patina. There is some denting and minor loss around the muzzle of the barrel as well. Most of the markings remain legible. Lock is mechanically functional but is heavily restored with most of the internal parts replaced. The cock and frizzen may be replaced as well. The lock plate itself is original with the original integral iron pan intact and not repaired or replaced. The barrel appears to be in original flint and an internal inspection did not reveal any welds or restoration around the touchhole area. The lock, barrel and stock do all appear to go together with the mating mark "| |" (two file slashes) found on those parts. Wood well worn, with cracks and repairs around the lock mortise and forward of the triggerguard. Some chipped wood loss is noted around the lock mortise, as well as near the stock tip. Otherwise the wood shows numerous dings, dents, scuffs, and mars, and moderate loss around the various pin mounting holes.

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Mr. Tim Carey

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Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

timprince@freemansauction.com 312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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Rack Numbered Barnett Contract British Carbine Bore Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol

War of 1812 / Napoleonic Wars

Please email armsarmor@hindmanauctions.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

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Rack Numbered Barnett Contract British Carbine Bore Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol

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