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LOT 165
“US” Surcharge Marked Revolutionary War Era French Charleville Flintlock Musket - NSN, 69 cal., 42 1/4 inch
round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. French flintlock muskets, often known as “Charleville muskets”, were among the
most widely used firearms of the American Revolution for the Patriots fighting under General George Washington in the
Continental Army as well as the various militias. Muskets and components were imported in large numbers from our
French allies who also used them in combat in North America. After independence was secured, these muskets became
the primary arms of the United States Army and provided the basis for our own domestically produced muskets. They
continued to see use in conflicts on the frontier as well as during the War of 1812 when we again fought against the
British to secure our freedom and honor. We believe this particular example was arsenal restocked to 1808 contract
pattern. The left stock flat has an “EW” cartouche, and a “P” is marked just to the rear of the trigger guard tang. The smoothbore barrel on this example
has a rectangular iron bayonet lug set back 1 1/4 inches from the muzzle on top, a faint inspection mark (likely “*/D”), and “US” surcharge mark on top
towards the breech. The lock has a distinct “*/D” inspection mark just behind the faceted priming pan and is inscribed “Charleville” at the center. A
double “US” surcharge mark is on the tail, and “BG” is marked on the inside of the lockplate. A brass blade front sight is fitted on the rear strap of the
upper barrel band, and “D” is marked on the right side of the middle band. Band springs are located behind all three bands. The rear band is noted in
“Muskets of the Revolution and the French & Indian War” by Bill Ahearn to have been installed on French muskets in 1768-1773. The sling swivels are
fitted to a stud in front of the trigger guard and the mid barrel band. “31” is marked on top of the middle barrel band and on the inside of the trigger
guard bow. The ramrod appears to have come originally from a Brown Bess and is marked “B/41” just behind the slightly trumpet shaped tip and with a crown further back.
CONDITION: Very good plus with some bright polished finish remaining among the grey/brown patina, tool marks, and replacement screw. The arsenal wood has an overcoat of protective
varnish and is also fine with minor dings and scratches scattered throughout, some moderate chipping on the left flat near the side plate, and a legible cartouche. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 164
Incredibly Rare Historic Jacob Dickert U.S. 1807 Contract Flintlock American Long Rifle - NSN, 62
cal., 38 inch part octagon bbl., brown finish, maple stock. “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume II: From the 1790s
to the End of the Flintlock Period” by George Moller on page 349 states that Dickert, DeHuff & Co. was an association
of Jacob Dickert, Henry DeHuff, George Miller, Christopher Gumpf, John Bender, and Peter Gonter, all Lancaster area gunmakers. They
received a contract for these rifles on December 9, 1807, from Tench Coxe for 600 rifles at $10 a piece. Jacob Dickert came to the colonies in
1740 from what is now Germany and settled in Lancaster County. He had one of the largest and most influential rifle shops in the country in the
late 1700s and early 1800s. The rifles were ordered in response to ongoing tensions with the British that eventually erupted as the War of 1812. Secretary
of War Henry Dearborn specified that the 1807 contract rifles should have 38 inch or shorter barrels and fire half ounce balls (.525-.53 caliber round ball, .54
bore), and Coxe was more specific in his instructions to Dickert and the other riflemakers and stated that the barrels should be 1/3 octagon and 2/3 round. They
were delivered in multiple shipments. 557 rifles by these gunmakers were inspected and accepted by May 9, 1809. These rifles display a mix of signatures and
markings. See the DeHuff rifle in his book. The article “1792 and 1807 Contract Rifles” by Edward R. Flanagan in “American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 97:30-38” lists just three 1807 contract rifles
by Dickert out of a total of just fourteen 1807 contract rifles known to survive today. While most of the world’s militaries almost exclusively used muskets for their martial arms, the United States made use
of riflemen both in the federal army and in state militia units. Because of the low prices specified for the rifles, they were not as high quality as the usual “Kentucky rifles” manufactured by Dickert and the
other Pennsylvania riflesmiths and had issues with the locks and some of the barrels. Nonetheless, they were put in working order and issued during the War of 1812 or delivered to allied Indians. As is rather
common with these early rifles, the barrel was subsequently bored out to around .62 caliber smoothbore. It has a brass blade front sight, low notch rear sight, “J [crossed tomahawk and arrow cartouche] Dickert” signed
on top of the barrel in the breech section, “US” on top at the breech, “eagle head/P” proof/inspection mark on the upper left flat barrel flat, “XX” at the tail of the German style lock, frizzen and frizzen spring screws that enter from
the inside of the lock, a plain trigger, a proper hickory ramrod with brass band at the tip, and a lightly figured full-length maple stock with a small cheekpiece and plain brass furniture consisting of a forend cap, two ramrod pipes, a
ramrod entry pipe, side plate, trigger guard with grip extension with a spur, patch box, and buttplate. It correctly does not have any provisions for mounting a sling.
CONDITION: Good as reconverted to flintlock configuration with a blend of dark brown patina and brown finish on the lock and barrel, moderate pitting at the vent, lighter pitting elsewhere, aged patina on the brass furniture, and
general mild wear. The repaired and refinished stock is good and has splices around the lock mortise, repaired cracks concentrated in the lengthened forend, and mild scrapes and dings. The patch box lid latch needs work, but the
lock is mechanically fine.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000
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