Original Item: One Only. Found in our Nepalese Palace purchase of 2003 this is a downsized Brown Bess Pattern Musket in the Pistol Caliber of .65″ bore, as opposed to the standard Infantry .75″ bore.
Officers, and to an extent, senior NCOs were issued pistols of .65″ bore, but often the commanders also carried muskets while leading their men into conflict. Fusils were the answer to this logistical issue, as these were muskets of pistol caliber, so the necessity to carry separate ammunition did not arise.
This example has a barrel of just under 39″, it has all brass mounts of the Brown Bess style and a fine walnut stock. The lock bears a stylized East India Company Rampart Lion adopted in 1808 which I suspect was “refreshed” in Nepal after 1816. The barrel shows no British Proof marks remaining so either they have worn away of the barrel was made in India. The musket is worn so honest wear may well be the answer.
The musket has a bannister rail butt stock and the brass trigger guard of 2nd model Brown Bess style. The bayonet stand doubles as the front sight, at some time the musket had a brass nose cap which has long been absent. Overall length is 55 inches.
An unusual E.I.C. Officer’s fusil musket, fully cleaned and ready to display