Rare US 1808 Contract Flintlock Musket by Brooke

War of 1812

.70 caliber. 44.75" barrel. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, full-length walnut musket stock with three flat, spring retained barrel bands. Single shot smoothbore muzzleloading flintlock musket with no rear sight, brass blade front sight on the rear strap of the upper barrel band, a socket bayonet lug on the bottom of the barrel, 1.25" from the muzzle, a bell shaped sling swivel on the stud forward of the triggerguard and a button head ramrod. The 6.375" flat beveled lock has a pronounced teat at the rear and is marked {Spread Winged Eagle}/US below the pan and marked BROOKE vertically at the tail. The lock has an integral, rounded, fenced and bridled iron pan. The frizzen toe is straight and the frizzen spring terminates in a bulb with a teat. The flat beveled cock is reinforced and has a heart shaped cut out with a straight cock's comb. The lock plate is in its original flint configuration although most of the internal small parts are replaced. The touchhole is well centered in the pan and is properly angled and tapered. Endoscopic examination of the interior of the breech revealed no welding or obvious signs of reconversion. The breech is stamped with a somewhat illegible capital letter, as well as a V and a raised {Eagle Head}/CT proof mark in a depressed oval. The "CT" indicates that the gun is a "contract" musket. The reverse butt is marked with what appears to be the number 39 followed by REGT. During the War of 1812, the 39th US Infantry was under the command of Andrew Jackson for some time and was present at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Initials and letters are lightly carved in both sides of the butt This rare 1808 contract musket was one of only 1,257 delivered by the firm of James, John & Nathaniel Brooke of Chester Township, PA. The received a contract on November 1, 1808 to produced 4,000 "Harpers Ferry Pattern" muskets, but only delivered a fraction of the guns contracted for. They delivered 605 in 1810, 472 in 1811 and 180 in 1812. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore dark, dirty and pitted. Muzzle with some dings and moderate wear. Metal with a rich brown patina, showing some scattered surface roughness and some scattered light pitting. Markigns in metal mostly clear, lock markings with some wear and loss. Mechanically functional lock. Stock with moderate wear, showing scattered bumps, dings and mars. Full-length ramrod does not fully seat in the ramrod channel.

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.

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

To request further details about this lot, please email armsarmor@hindmanauctions.com

Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

timcarey@freemansauction.com 513.666.4984

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.

We are open for pick-up Monday-Friday: 10am-4pm.

For questions about shipping or packing, please contact logistics@hindmanauctions.com or see our Shipping/Packing page.

Rare US 1808 Contract Flintlock Musket by Brooke

War of 1812

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

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

Arms, Armor and Militaria Online

Rare US 1808 Contract Flintlock Musket by Brooke

Lot Description

Condition Report

Preview

Auction Contact

Shipping | Pickup