Original British Victorian Late 3rd Model Brown Bess Flintlock Musket Marked to Tasmanian Penal Colony – dated 1846 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This 39″ barrel .75 Bore Third Model Brown Bess is ALL ORIGINAL and clearly has a long and hard history. It is fitted with an exceptionally figured WALNUT stock. The lock is correctly marked with a QUEEN’S CROWN / V.R. royal cypher over TOWER 1846. The rear of the lock plate is ROUNDED, and under the flash pan is the correct CROWN / BROAD ARROW Lock Viewer’s mark. The Brass mounts are all Third Model mounts and the stock has the early shaped comb butt stock. The Musket works well and is in very good/excellent Condition.

The Barrel is engraved:-

MARIA   ISLAND    VAN    DIEMAN’S    LAND

“Van Diemen’s Land” was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration of Australia in the 19th century. Internet research tells us that MARIA ISLAND was the second Penal Colony on the Tasmanian possession, which was seized from the Dutch by the British and renamed TASMANIA in 1855 with the Capital being HOBART, as it is today.

MARIA ISLAND was reserved for re-offending convicts receiving the dregs of the Penal system even from the mainland of Australia itself and conditions of the day were particularly harsh. Those condemned were never allowed to leave Tasmania and survivors only had fellow convicts with whom to procreate. Indeed a miserable existence.

A very RARE and Interesting late FLINTLOCK BROWN BESS MUSKET in remarkable lightly cleaned condition. The quality suggests this was an Officer’s Private Purchase weapon that by happenstance ended up in the lowest pit of the Empire. It does show some wood repairs on the left side along the woodline, but overall the stock has held up remarkably well, especially considering where it ended up. The metalwork is very good as well, showing a lovely aged patina. The lock functions, but can be made to fire at half cock due to wear of the tumbler.

We have had multiple questions about this musket and we feel that taking the musket by its component parts is the easiest way to approach the matter:

– Barrel: The barrel does not have visible proof marks anywhere which suggests the barrel was made outside of the United Kingdom. Perhaps in India or even in Australia. The barrel markings are old and appear to be period authentic. The barrel is engraved “MARIA ISAND , VAN DIEMAN’S LAND”. Research shows that Maria Island had two distinct times for holding convicts. First from 1825 until 1832 and then again between 1842 until 1851 and possibly longer when the IRISH REPUBLICAN leader “WILLIAM SMITH OBRIEN ” whose residence started in 1848 and he remained in Tasmania for the remainder of his life.

– Lock: The lock appears absolutely right however it has a ROUNDED tail not the typical pointed tail one would expect to see
on a Third Pattern Brown Bess. All the markings are clearly period authentic when examined under a magnification. These markings include CROWN over V.R. and TOWER 1846.

– Stock: Appears to be Walnut, has a lovely selected grain and was made with the rounded tail lock aperture, which although it is an earlier style of third pattern with groves to the comb of the butt. it was clearly made in the early Victorian period. The conclusion is that the stock was made for this rounded lock tail design and that can only be if it was PRIVATELY commissioned requiring these early features. All the brass mounts are of third Model design which were available throughout the Empire in the 1840’s.

In conclusion we feel that this Privately made 1840’s Flintlock V.R. Brown Bess adhered to its owner’s specifications and quite possibly some components were from older pattern muskets.

How such a high quality musket was ever on MARIA ISLAND, such a miserable location, is now known only to history.

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: 1846
Caliber: .75″ Musket
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 39 inches
Overall Length: 54 1/2 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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