Tower Brown Bess Pattern 1809 Muzzleloader .75 Cal Muzzleloader Rifle

Tower marked Pattern 1809 India Type 2, 'Brown Bess flintlock infantry musket and bayonet. It is a regulation 0.75" calibre, with a 39" barrel.

This is a Napoleonic Wars era infantry musket of regulation type, with King's proof and view marks to the barrel, together with the crown over 'GR' cypher, government ordnance arrow stamp and 'Tower' marking to the lock plate. This all goes to indicate that the musket was issued to a British infantry regiment during the Napoleonic Wars and Waterloo era.

There are various other markings to the gun, including matching numbers '311' to the barrel and the stock. The gun is in full working order, holding on the half and full cock, with a strong spring. The barrel is marked with the manufacturer's name, 'Blair'. David Blair operated as a gunmaker in Birmingham from the 1780s until his death in 1814. There are some hints at a connection between Blair and the Jacobite cause, with the possibility that he supplied weapons in that direction, and even to the French as well.

There are further acceptance and manufacturing marks to the stock and the brass sideplate. All of the woodwork and metal parts are in excellent condition, with a few minor dents indicative of active service use. It has the correct original ramrod.

The gun comes complete with a correct India Pattern 1809 bayonet manufactured by Osborn, with a blade length of 435mm/17".

The asking price includes delivery to a UK address.

No licence is required to own this gun as part of a collection for display purposes, being an antique item of an obsolete calibre.