This is a circa 1770s English fusil. The Fusil was a lighter and smaller version of the standard musket for officers and sergeants to carry. Often a private purchase and richly embellished.

In overall fine original flintlock condition. The round barrel measures 39” long and is .69 caliber. Bore is dirty. Silver blade sight on top and small bayonet lug on bottom of barrel at muzzle. Faint remains of a scroll engraved on top of barrel, 6” to 7” from breech (possibly this once enclosed a maker’s name) and two strong Board of Ordnance (crown & scepters) proof-marks on the right side of breech. The breech tang features a groove which acts as a rear sight. Untouched, smooth, dark brown surfaces with some light discoloration and expected fine pitting, at the touch-hole, breech, and on breech tang. Barrel fastened to stock by three keys.

Unmarked lock with functional hammer, good mainspring, and feather spring. However hammer does not stop/hold at half- or full-cock. Fine, single line border engraved around edge of lockplate, bottom of hammer, top jaw, and front of steel/frizzen. Some chipping on outer edge of top jaw. Nice detail remains on finial of feather spring. Overall dark color and moderate pitting to all parts on lockplate assembly.

Beautiful walnut fullstock of classic Georgian design with a well defined comb and a raised apron at the barrel tang. Original color and finish overall.  Bears the small dings and abrasions expected on a military long arm of this age. There appears to be one very old and very well done repair to a crack between the third and fourth ramrod pipes. Stock maker’s “roman numeral” appears in ramrod channel.

Brass furniture is all in place and much of it is elaborately engraved. The trigger-guard features a detailed acorn on the tip, then an engraved “Tudor Rose” on its bow, and fine detailed edging down the backstrap. The buttplate, screwed and pinned in place, has an elaborately engraved tang (4 ¼” long) featuring cannon barrels, flags, spears, and an oval with “23” in center. (For 23^rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers?) The sideplate opposite the lock also features drums and draped flag along with elaborate edging. Oddly the thumb plate atop the “wrist” is unmarked. There are four brass ramrod pipes, each secured by pins; the two closest to the muzzle are of the tapered “entry-pipes”. Original iron ramrod and sling swivels. For similar example see G. W. Neumann’s: “Battle Weapons of the American Revolution”, figure M.16 on page 64. Comes with a folder of photos of a similar gun with maker-marked lock.

An extremely nice example of a scarce Revolutionary War period English flintlock fusil.  [jet]

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