29
'Brown Bess' musket found in Achill Island.
Estimate:
€200 - €300
Sold
€420
Timed Auction
The Eclectic Collector - Part One
Description
Description: Probably 'liberated' from a landlord or his agents during the Land Wars. Discovered in 1975 in an Achill Island cottage's thatched roof.
Note: "Brown Bess" is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's muzzle-loading smoothbore flintlock Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket and its derivatives, all 0.75 inch calibre flintlock muskets, were the standard long guns of British land forces from 1722 until 1838, when they were superseded by a percussion cap smoothbore musket. A fire in 1841 at the Tower of London destroyed many muskets before they could be converted. Still, the Brown Bess saw service until the middle of the nineteenth century.Due to the unreliability of the first issue - after much use they over heated and sometimes killed or injured soldiers - of these muskets some were sent to Ireland for use by the banks and landlords as security weapons that wouldn't see as much use as the military and therefore would not overheat.See also lot 280.
Note: "Brown Bess" is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's muzzle-loading smoothbore flintlock Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket and its derivatives, all 0.75 inch calibre flintlock muskets, were the standard long guns of British land forces from 1722 until 1838, when they were superseded by a percussion cap smoothbore musket. A fire in 1841 at the Tower of London destroyed many muskets before they could be converted. Still, the Brown Bess saw service until the middle of the nineteenth century.Due to the unreliability of the first issue - after much use they over heated and sometimes killed or injured soldiers - of these muskets some were sent to Ireland for use by the banks and landlords as security weapons that wouldn't see as much use as the military and therefore would not overheat.See also lot 280.
Condition
Due to poor storage the metal has corroded, stock holed by woodworm, missing trigger and guard, lacking ramrod, but a decorative piece of great historical interest.
