RARE DIGBY BRANDED 2ND MODEL BROWN BESS FLINTLOCK MUSKET

Revised: 10/19/2007

(Correction)In reality this should be considered a “transition model” rather than a pure 2nd Model.

RARE DIGBY BRANDED 2ND MODEL BROWN BESS FLINTLOCK MUSKET SN NSN. Cal. About 80. Fine 2nd Model Brown Bess, known as the militia & marine pattern with 42” rnd bbl, square bayonet lug at top of muzzle with three British proofs at breech end. It has the “TOWER” lockplate with crown over “GR”, the cipher of King George III and a small arrow & crown toward front and has two screws behind hammer. It has all brass furniture with a rounded serpentine sideplate and four ramrod guides with the second one tapered similar to top one. It has its orig buttonhead iron ramrod. Mounted in nicely figured straight grain walnut with a prominent swell at nosepipe with raised side panels and a raised area around top tang with a blank acorn shaped thumbplate and a smooth brass buttplate. Left side of comb is branded “14: B / DIGBY: M”. It also has the broad arrow in a circle. Markings are for the 14th Battalion Digby Militia which was formed from citizens of Nova Scotia and Loyalists that had fled from the American Revolution. The Digby Militia was the first militia formed in Nova Scotia in 1795 and existed until 1844. The broad arrow in the circle on the stock is the military surplus mark. These muskets were sold as surplus in 1855 and replaced with the percussion Enfield rifled musket. These muskets were among the very first that England ever allowed to be branded and the only reason they did was to distinguish between the arms of the regular troops and the militia stationed in Nova Scotia. Right side of buttstock has crudely carved initials “WD”. Review of the Digby Muster Roll of Discharged Officers & Disbanded Soldiers & Loyalists, Town of Digby, May 1784, there are two possibilities for these initials. One, was William Davenport, a Loyalist who was single and the other was William Degan, also a Loyalist and single. Accompanied by a 1976 Stoeger Shooter’s Bible. This rifle is pictured on cover of that catalog with credits inside back cover. CONDITION: Fine and in orig flintlock. Metal all retains a dark chocolate brown patina with some moderate to heavy rust on bbl with moderate to heavy pitting around pan and on top tang. Stock has a crack back of lockplate and another by rear lock screw, otherwise wood is sound with minor nicks & scratches and retains about all of a very old restored finish. Stock ahead of lockplate is deeply charred. The second ramrod guide is slightly damaged. Mechanics are fine. Catalog is fine. 4-32598(8,500-12,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1569	$0.00	Revised: 10/19/2007 (Correction)In reality this should be considered a “transition model” rather than a pure 2nd Model. RARE DIGBY BRANDED 2ND MODEL BROWN BESS FLINTLOCK MUSKET SN NSN. Cal. About 80. Fine 2nd Model Brown Bess, known as the militia & marine pattern with 42” rnd bbl, square bayonet lug at top of muzzle with three British proofs at breech end. It has the “TOWER” lockplate with crown over “GR”, the cipher of King George III and a small arrow & crown toward front and has two screws behind hammer. It has all brass furniture with a rounded serpentine sideplate and four ramrod guides with the second one tapered similar to top one. It has its orig buttonhead iron ramrod. Mounted in nicely figured straight grain walnut with a prominent swell at nosepipe with raised side panels and a raised area around top tang with a blank acorn shaped thumbplate and a smooth brass buttplate. Left side of comb is branded “14: B / DIGBY: M”. It also has the broad arrow in a circle. Markings are for the 14th Battalion Digby Militia which was formed from citizens of Nova Scotia and Loyalists that had fled from the American Revolution. The Digby Militia was the first militia formed in Nova Scotia in 1795 and existed until 1844. The broad arrow in the circle on the stock is the military surplus mark. These muskets were sold as surplus in 1855 and replaced with the percussion Enfield rifled musket. These muskets were among the very first that England ever allowed to be branded and the only reason they did was to distinguish between the arms of the regular troops and the militia stationed in Nova Scotia. Right side of buttstock has crudely carved initials “WD”. Review of the Digby Muster Roll of Discharged Officers & Disbanded Soldiers & Loyalists, Town of Digby, May 1784, there are two possibilities for these initials. One, was William Davenport, a Loyalist who was single and the other was William Degan, also a Loyalist and single. Accompanied by a 1976 Stoeger Shooter’s Bible. This rifle is pictured on cover of that catalog with credits inside back cover. CONDITION: Fine and in orig flintlock. Metal all retains a dark chocolate brown patina with some moderate to heavy rust on bbl with moderate to heavy pitting around pan and on top tang. Stock has a crack back of lockplate and another by rear lock screw, otherwise wood is sound with minor nicks & scratches and retains about all of a very old restored finish. Stock ahead of lockplate is deeply charred. The second ramrod guide is slightly damaged. Mechanics are fine. Catalog is fine. 4-32598(8,500-12,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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