Guns International #: 103144038
Seller's Inventory #: 2800

Category - Antique Rifles - Flintlock - Antique Rifles - 1500-1850

Category
Antique Rifles - Flintlock
Antique Rifles - 1500-1850

RICHARD WILSON London Flintlock Smoothbore Musket JAS GOLCHER Philadelphia 18th Century Colonial Militia Arm

Description:
RICHARD WILSON London Flintlock Smoothbore Musket JAS GOLCHER Philadelphia

18th Century Colonial Militia Arm

Here we present an antique Richard Wilson of London Flintlock Musket, made in the 18th Century. Richard Wilson was the first of a multigenerational family named and owned arms making company in the Minories. He was born to parents who were originally from the county of Westmorland and he was baptized in the church of St. Bottolph’s Aldgate in London in 1703. He was apprenticed to London gunmaker Thomas Green for 7 years. Upon the completion of his apprenticeship in 1725 he continued to work for Thomas and then Thomas’s wife Agnes when Thomas had passed away. They made guns on contract for the Hudson’s Bay Company as well as the Royal African Company. He took over this business from Agnes and gained The Honourable East India Company as a client in 1733. He appears to have been making guns for North America by about 1735, documents mentioning his arms by name noting their desirability. Colonies such as Georgia and South Carolina were ordering muskets and bayonets for their militias while merchants were ordering them for sale to their customers, the colonists as well as Native Americans. Richard would pass in 1766 but his son William and subsequently his grandson William II would continue the family name and business. Richard would also train Robert Barnett and it is speculated by DeWitt Bailey II, the author of an excellent article from which much of this information was gleaned, that Barnett would make up part of the Company (as in Wilson & Co.) along with Richard’s first apprentice, Robert Wilson, a relative.
This piece has a long, smoothbore barrel which would have offered great versatility for the user, allowing him to fire a .65 caliber round ball for martial duties or for large game animals, shot for fowl and small game, or a combination called “buck and ball”. “RW” marked barrel with pre-1813 London proofs. “LONDON” on top. James Golcher Warranted flint lock. The Golchers were a long line of lock makers and gunsmiths. James worked in Philadelphia throughout much of the 18th Century, reportedly immigrating there in 1755 and working until his death in 1805. This musket would have been made around the time of the American Revolutionary War.

The overall condition is very good. Even patina throughout. The action is excellent. The bore is in very good condition and smooth. The stock shows use and has a very old, smoothed out chip at the toe; otherwise solid.

Barrel is 48 inches long.

Caliber: .65

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$2800

#250566

 

Antique: Yes

Price: $2,800.00
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