Product Details
WOOD, LONDON
A RARE .760 FLINTLOCK MUSKET, MODEL 'BRIGHT SEA-SERVICE', gun number 15,
dated for 1748, with brushed bright round iron 42in. barrel (some staining), block fore-sight, carved and moulded bands at breech, the top of barrel engraved '15' and with Tower proofs and ordnance marks, early style radiused borderline engraved lock marked 'WOOD' together with the date at the tail (refreshed), traces of a crown 'G.R.' device forwards of cock, bridled frizzen, walnut handrail full-stock with flat-topped comb, brass furniture including flat 'Sea Service' heel-plate and 'Land Service Pattern' sideplate, iron stirrup swivels and working replacement ramrod
Provenance: British Sea Service muskets from this era were often a mixture of obsolete and modern parts, but in no way inferior to their Army cousins. During the 1750's, the requirement for Army muskets was 160,000 but the requirement for sea service only 20,000 giving reason for their comparative rarity today. The Navy only received two small deliveries of old type muskets, the 1740 Pattern, in 1756/1757. The majority later delivered were the 1757 Pattern and many had been fitted with old parts as represented here with the earlier lock. John Wood (1) became free of the Gunmaker's Company in 1667 and is later recorded as working for the Board of Ordnance in 1628. John Wood (2) was most likely his grandson (or possibly son) and was a lock maker to the Ordnance receiving contracts March to September 1748, December 1756 and February 1757. He also supplied completed 1740 Pattern muskets in two deliveries from 1756 to 1757
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Estimate £3,000-5,000