SOLD - Incredible Revolutionary War Richard Wilson Brown Bess - New Jersey Contract

Description

3/14/25 - This is a very seldom seen Richard Wilson of London contract Fusil musket in the pattern of a Brown Bess. Richard Wilson was a supplier of military arms for the colony of New Jersey during the French and Indian War. These arms remained in the New Jersey colony arsenal after the French and Indian war, they were subsequently issued to New Jersey loyalist forces at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. These arms were also known to have made it into the hands of American colonial forces. It’s easy to imagine this musket having been at Bunker Hill or the Battle of Trenton. One such example is even documented as having made George Washington’s historic crossing of the Delaware River. The example being offered is a second contract model (circa 1757) it has an iron ramrod with a barrel length of 40 inches and a total length of 54 inches. The top of the barrel is engraved “LONDON” the breech is stamped with a series of proof marks including “RW” indicating Richard Wilson production. The beautiful three step rear butt plate tang is engraved “New Jersey” the profile of the butt plate is unique to the RW muskets and cannot be interchanged with standard Brown Bess muskets of the period. The lock plate features a goose neck hammer with “Wilson” engraved in the center mass. The English walnut stock has aged like a beautiful piece of colonial period furniture, no major breaks or cracks to note. The finish overall is a very pleasing, even brown patina throughout. The iron, brass and wood surfaces show no major signs of having been heavily cleaned or altered. This musket appears to be original in almost every way, there are no signs of stock replacement or conversion to percussion over its lifespan. The vast majority of these that weren’t lost in combat, were used up as shotguns by early American settlers. It’s important to remember this musket pre dates the American Revolution! Here is a unique opportunity to own a true piece or early American history. Similar examples have traded hands for considerably more than our asking!