A British Pattern 1777 Short Land Brown Bess musket, dated by its pattern to the 1777 to 1782 window. The Tower and crown GR markings on the lock appear to be engraved, the top of the barrel carries the name M. Cheshire, and the trigger guard is numbered 12; the thumb escutcheon marking can no longer be read. Similar barrel stamps appear on other Brown Bess muskets and may point to the 22nd Regiment of Foot, though that link is not proven.

Condition is honest for its age: the metal has been cleaned and shows a gray patina with pinprick pitting, and the stock has handling wear, a repair on the right side and a small wood separation ahead of the lock plate. Goldstein and Mowbray's Brown Bess reference counts the Pattern 1777 as a British arm of the War of Independence unless shown otherwise, while noting that proving service for any one musket is difficult. For a New Jersey collector it is a display and study piece.

Key features

• Pattern 1777 Short Land Brown Bess, 1777-1782 period
• Barrel engraved M. Cheshire, trigger guard marked 12
• Gray patina with pinprick pitting on the metal
• Stock repair on right side, small separation ahead of lock
• Possible 22nd Regiment of Foot association, unproven

This musket ships to the New Jersey FFL dealer you select, and you collect it there once the dealer has processed the transfer.