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1797 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Contract Musket Attributed to John Foundersmith, image 1
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Lot 17
1797 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Contract Musket Attributed to John Foundersmith,
Lancaster, County, Pennsylvania, c. 1797-1801.
5 October 2023, 10:00 EDT
Skinner Marlborough, Massachusetts

US$2,500 - US$3,500

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1797 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Contract Musket Attributed to John Foundersmith,
Lancaster, County, Pennsylvania, c. 1797-1801.

44 1/16 in., .72 caliber round barrel, the left side of the breech with liberty cap over "P" proof mark in a sunken oval cartouche and "IK" in a sunken oval cartouche likely for John Kerlin of Berks County, and the top of the barrel stamped "CP"; flat lock plate with pointed tail marked "CP" and the inside of the plate marked "I.F.S.," assembly number "IX" appears on the lock plate, bridle, and steel, one side nail with "II" assembly number; walnut stock, the left side of the butt with a carved "H"; iron furniture of proper form, with sling swivels and button head steel rammer with threaded end.
Overall lg. 59 5/8 in.

Footnotes

Provenance
The David Steward Collection, #380.

Literature
This musket is illustrated in David A. Stewart and William M. Reid, Pennsylvania Contract Muskets: 1797 Arms Procurement Act, (American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin No. 91, 2005), p. 91/26, Figs. 29, 30.

Note
The musket is attributed to Foundersmith's contract under which 500 arms were produced for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The lock interior is stamped "IFS" which may be John Foundersmith of Lancaster County. The interior lock mark could simply be Foundersmith's identification as lock maker. The barrel is marked "IK" probably for John Kerlin of Berks County. If Foundersmith only fabricated the lock, the musket may be one of Kerlin's contracts.

Additional information