IDENTIFIED REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1ST MODEL BROWN BESS RAMPART GUN, EDMUND THOMAS, N.J. CONTINENTAL LINE.

SN NSN. Cal. 80. 1st model Brown Bess with military proofed 60″ bbl dated 1761. Rampart guns were mostly obsolete by the Revolutionary War. American forces typically were converting French Rampart guns to shorter length for infantry, amazing this example survived with bbl not being cut. This gun was bought in an estate sale in 1994 in Rumson, N.J. & had descended in the family of Edmund Thomas who was originally a private in the 3rd N.J. Battalion, Ensign July 19, 1776, 1st Lt. November 11, 1777, Capt. by brevet September 30, 1783. Among the numerous documents concerning his service, he was present at Fort Ticonderoga & Mt. Independence where potentially a Rampart gun could have been used. Fort Ticonderoga, in their museum collection, has a similar 1st model. The 3rd N.J. saw action at the Battle of Valcour Island, N.Y. Campaign, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Sullivan Expedition & Springfield. Thomas’ initials are carved with the date 1778 on the top right comb of buttstock. Another pair of initials are carved on opposite side with 73 possibly identifying the use of this musket in 1773, the year of the Boston Tea Party. CONDITION: Gun appears “as found”, orig flint, metal has dark grungy patinas to brass & iron. 76″ overall. Markings on lock & bbl discernible as are carvings in stock. Wood ramrod is broken from rear thimble back. Stock is broken at site of front of bbl retaining key-way still retaining its iron pin which wood appears quite a bit rotten at that area. A piece of brass wire is wrapped around forestock at this point. Based on patina of bbl & wood at break, this piece of wood has been missing for a very long time. Stock also has an unrepaired hairline crack at about mid-point at site of bbl retaining pin. Interesting to note that stock has apparently orig overlapping chamfered extension of stock based on patina. All metal on gun appears orig with exception of frizzen spring which apparently was missing & has been replaced with a period copy for aesthetics, even the frizzen spring screw appears orig with matching iron patina. Mechanically lock exhibits strong spring but will not hold cock, bore is clear with pitting. Accompanying this musket is an 1872 edition (878 pgs) of the Official Register of the Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War where a bio of Capt. Thomas can be found. Book is cracked & has duct tape repair to spine, but text is complete with yellowing & foxing pgs. 50149-3 JS (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2265

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Auction: Firearms - March 2016

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
	2265	$0.00	IDENTIFIED REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1ST MODEL BROWN BESS RAMPART GUN, EDMUND THOMAS, N.J. CONTINENTAL LINE. SN NSN. Cal. 80. 1st model Brown Bess with military proofed 60″ bbl dated 1761. Rampart guns were mostly obsolete by the Revolutionary War. American forces typically were converting French Rampart guns to shorter length for infantry, amazing this example survived with bbl not being cut. This gun was bought in an estate sale in 1994 in Rumson, N.J. & had descended in the family of Edmund Thomas who was originally a private in the 3rd N.J. Battalion, Ensign July 19, 1776, 1st Lt. November 11, 1777, Capt. by brevet September 30, 1783. Among the numerous documents concerning his service, he was present at Fort Ticonderoga & Mt. Independence where potentially a Rampart gun could have been used. Fort Ticonderoga, in their museum collection, has a similar 1st model. The 3rd N.J. saw action at the Battle of Valcour Island, N.Y. Campaign, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Sullivan Expedition & Springfield. Thomas’ initials are carved with the date 1778 on the top right comb of buttstock. Another pair of initials are carved on opposite side with 73 possibly identifying the use of this musket in 1773, the year of the Boston Tea Party. CONDITION: Gun appears “as found”, orig flint, metal has dark grungy patinas to brass & iron. 76″ overall. Markings on lock & bbl discernible as are carvings in stock. Wood ramrod is broken from rear thimble back. Stock is broken at site of front of bbl retaining key-way still retaining its iron pin which wood appears quite a bit rotten at that area. A piece of brass wire is wrapped around forestock at this point. Based on patina of bbl & wood at break, this piece of wood has been missing for a very long time. Stock also has an unrepaired hairline crack at about mid-point at site of bbl retaining pin. Interesting to note that stock has apparently orig overlapping chamfered extension of stock based on patina. All metal on gun appears orig with exception of frizzen spring which apparently was missing & has been replaced with a period copy for aesthetics, even the frizzen spring screw appears orig with matching iron patina. Mechanically lock exhibits strong spring but will not hold cock, bore is clear with pitting. Accompanying this musket is an 1872 edition (878 pgs) of the Official Register of the Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War where a bio of Capt. Thomas can be found. Book is cracked & has duct tape repair to spine, but text is complete with yellowing & foxing pgs. 50149-3 JS (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2265 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2016 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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IDENTIFIED REVOLUTIONARY WAR 1ST MODEL BROWN BESS RAMPART GUN, EDMUND THOMAS, N.J. CONTINENTAL LINE.