Original British East India Company Model F Percussion Musket Circa 1840- Untouched Condition Original Items

Original Item: Official records tell us that the British East India Company procured or made no Flintlock Muskets after the late 1820s and it appears they were very swift to take advantage of the newest in firearms technology- the percussion ignition system. In 1840 the HEIC began producing the world’s very first massed produced percussion muskets one of which later became known as the EIC Model “F”.

A brief history of how this model came to being- The shortened 39″ barrel Brown Bess musket was first developed and adopted by the EIC in 1771. This was a full 25 years before the Board of Ordnance in London followed suit with a 39″ Brown Bess Musket dubbed the “India Pattern” in 1796. This is a testament that private enterprise has seemingly always got things done long before government bureaucrats. In 1839 the British Government officially adopted a converted to percussion Brown Bess musket (P-1796/39) but in the Great Fire of the Tower of London of 1841 over 400,000 of these converted Muskets were destroyed leaving the British Government very short handed. The result, once again, was to copy the current EIC Percussion Musket, the Model “F” and designate it the “Lovell’s Pattern of 1842”. By that time, the EIC had already developed and refined the .75 bore Percussion musket through six models- A to F.

IMA is proud to offer original British manufactured EIC Model “F” Muskets, again in .75 bore and with 39″ standard length barrel. Models A and B were EIC flintlock muskets converted to percussion. However, the Model F was purpose built percussion issue. This Pattern dispensed with the screw on breech (needed because of the unreliability of the brazed on nipple lumps) as improved technology now permitted the welding of the nipple lump directly to the side of the breech. The nipple lump changes shape to fit what was then called the “new style lock”. The lock was of the new percussion type with the mainspring no longer screwed in at its small end but secured under a lip inside the lock plate. The trigger is hung in a box, part of the trigger plate, instead of on a pin in the wood, and the side plate disappeared in favor of the later side nail cups with new Pattern F bayonet catch. These were built or “set up” between 1845 and 1851.

The differences between the various EIC Models are generally minor; Model A and B were Brown Bess flintlock conversions, Model C and D were purpose built percussion muskets but had the “Old Series” side locks with differing trigger guard styles, while the Model E and F both had the “new series” side locks and had either the Hanoverian Catch on the Model E or the EIC bayonet catch on the Model F.

Please See David Harding’s stellar work Smallarms of the East India Company 1600-1856 published in four volumes by Foresight Books in 1997. Specifically, please see Volume 2, pages 97-124 for a mass of information concerning the vary EIC Model muskets.

This musket accepts, most notably, a nearly unobtainable bayonet, the original EIC Pattern F socket bayonet (sold separately). These EIC Model “F” Muskets that we are now offering, originate from our purchase from the kingdom of Nepal.

What does “Untouched Condition” mean? OK, this is exactly what we are offering: Genuine Antique British East India Company Model F Muskets that have laid undisturbed for well over 100 years in far from perfect storage conditions in the Old Palace of Lagan Silekhana in Katmandu, Nepal. Our DVD of “TREASURE IS WHERE YOU FIND IT” shows these very weapons as we found them and the story behind them.

What you will get:

– EIC Marked Lock
– Hammer
– Barrel
– Stock [May have Cracks, Missing Chunks, Old Repairs, Wood Rot]– Brass Trigger Guard
– Ram Rod
– Brass Butt Plate

What you might not get:

– Screws [Butt Plate, Sling Swivel, etc]– Front and Rear sights
– Sling Swivels
– Bayonet Catch
– Other minor bits

Typical Condition:

– Will show rust & pitting
– Will be covered in filth
– May be frozen in grime
– May not operate
– May be incomplete
– May have chips, missing chunks, old repairs
– May have cracks and/or rot in wood

However, every British East India Company Model F Musket WILL BE 100% GENUINE!

We ask you to look closely at the photographs, the example photographed here is a typical gun that could expect to receive, read reviews, both good and bad, and only then place an order understanding what you are likely to receive. We want Educated Aware Customers. If it isn’t what you expect, that is fine, return it (before you attempt any restoration) and the full gun purchase price will be refunded to you, however the customer will pay shipping both ways. We cannot exchange guns and will not get into an exchange situation, so please do not ask.

We are not trying to sell you an incomplete weapon and then sell you the missing parts. We will do our best to make sure it is complete as possible. One day we will also sell replacement parts, but that is in the distant future.

We are not trying to frustrate you; we are trying to fill a void in the marketplace for genuine but affordable rare and unique antique weapons so that collectors and historians of all backgrounds can enjoy a genuine part of history.

These should be viewed as “project” guns, work on it with your Son or Grandson, clean it up, hang it over your mantle, or don”t clean it, they are impressive anyway you seem them. The price is affordable; the history is priceless.

If you want to shoot it, DON’T! If you still want to shoot it, take it to a licensed GUNSMITH first. These are 100+ year-old hand made guns, be very careful, IMA sells these for display purposes only, they are not intended to be fired.

Please buy our products, but do read the reviews and descriptions first. We feel you will agree that the recovery of old weapons from Nepal was a milestone for the collecting fraternity and we hope you enjoy a genuine antique weapon that has never been touched by any other collector than you.

This will be a short-lived opportunity to add an affordable rare EIC Model F Musket to your collection. Don’t let it pass you by.

Bayonet is not included but is available separately.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.