Project Description
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is about a 1/2 scale percussion musket, probably made in Belgium in the mid 1800’s. I don’t think this is a true miniature, but was made for a child or very small person. 23 3/4″ long overall with a 15″ round barrel of about .35 caliber. On close examination, the barrel is lined with what looks to be a thin sheet metal liner, with 4 small tabs folded over into the bore at the muzzle so it looks like it’s rifled. This may not be original to this piece & done later. I suspect that if it was never really meant to shoot once the bore was lined, & was only meant to fire blank charges maybe. Steel barrel, lock assembly, band springs, rear swivel, trigger & screws, with an aged brown patina finish & scattered pitting over most surfaces. The yellow brass nosecap, barrel band, triggerguard, and buttplate have a really nice aged patina. The lockplate is marked “L’AMIRAL TOM PONCE”, which in French translates to Admiral Tom Thumb. There are also some markings on the top of the barrel between the breech and the barrel band, but I can not make them out. It is my understanding that General tom Thumb of American fame had a counterpart in France. This musket would have been about the proper size for someone of that stature, but other than the markings, I have no provenance that this actually belonged to such a person. Most loikely, it was made for the child of some rather wealthy family. The piece has several condition issues. First off, the relined bore as noted above, then the ramrod and front sling swivel are missing. The hammer will set at half cock, but will not catch at full cock. There are cracks in the forearm on both sides centering around the hole where the missing front sling swivel would go. There is a small chip out of the buttstock on the left toe at the buttplate. An interesting antique child’s musket, and possibly worthy of further research. !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
