Musket

Object Name:

Musket

Object ID:

1962.018.01

Creator:

Derr, John; Elwell, Henry

Place of Origin:

Reading, PA

Date:

1831

Description:

Musket, Flintlock. Iron barrel with maple stock; 50 caliber; "John Derr" engraved on top of barrel; "H. Elwell" stamped on lockplate. Muzzleloading flintlock with octagonal-found barrel, rifled, known as "Pennsylvania-Kentucky long rifle". The 45" long barrel has a caliber of .50, and is octagonal in shape from the breech to 15" down the barrel, at which point an ornamental ring is filed; from this point the barrel is round in shape to the muzzle. Wooden ramrod is intact. Lug and pin fastenings attach barrel to stock. All iron parts affixed to the curly maple stock are browned: barrel, lock, trigger. Remainder of features are typical of all Kentucky rifles: Long, thin stock extends nearly to muzzle, elevated hand grip on rear of trigger guard, raised carving around most fittings, patch box with brass cover, and a sharp "Roman nose" butt (picture in file). Brass furniture includes: nosecap for stock; 3 ramrod pipes (tubular in shape); rectangular brass fitting with outward curved projections is let into stock behind tailpipe; brass trigger guard, side plate, curved butt plate with heptagonal butt plate tang 2.75" long; brass ornament inletted along comb, ornate brass patch box on right side of stock. An oval silver escutcheon and a silver half-moon (set into left side of stock over raised carving) also ornament stock.
Markings: Breech-end of barrel: "*John*Derr*Oley*1831". Lockplate (forward of cock): "H. Elwell, Warranted".

Material:

Wood
Maple
Metal
Iron
Brass

Dimensions:

L-60 inches

Provenance:

Given in memory of Colonel Alcott Farrar Elwell.

Credit Line:

Gift of Helen Chaffee Elwell, in memory of Alcott Farrar Elwell

People:

Derr, John, Elwell, Henry, Elwell, Alcott Farrar (1866-1962)

Subjects:

Firearms, Muskets