17734 MASSIVE BRITISH DOG LOCK MUSKET

Overall length is 70 5/8". The round barrel is 54 1/4" long. The bore is .84". The barrel is octagonal from the breech forward about 16" and then transitions to round. Externally, the barrel has moderate to heavy pitting, mostly heavy, over its entire length. Faint remnants of British proof marks are present on the upper left flat ahead of the breech. The barrel is attached to the stock by three flat sheet metal bands which appear to be made of brass. The lower band is about 2" wide with the middle and upper bands being about 1 ½" wide. A blade front sight is attached on the upper band which is located about 6" behind the muzzle. The bands are darkly tarnished and the middle and lower bands have several punch marks present which appear to be an effort to tighten the band and retain it in the stock. The stock is of walnut and extends all the way to the muzzle. The ramrod channel is present beneath the barrel and houses an old wooden ramrod. The stock is quite dark and dirty. It might benefit from a careful cleaning but has a nice age appearance as it is. The stock does not have furniture such as buttplate or triggerguard. These parts were never present on the stock. Stock appears to have been damaged in some way behind the lockplate as several small nail heads are present in that area. In addition, several age checks have opened on the buttstock extending from the butt forward. The English Dog flintlock is attached to the stock by two large sidelock screws entering from the left side of the stock. The lock is about 7" long and has a flat lockplate with slightly pointed tail. Rotating dog catch is located behind the flat faced double throated hammer. The finish on the lock mechanism is moderate to heavy pitting. Its coloration is brown. Lock mechanism works well. In the bottom of the right side of the stock initials "JMN" are nicely carved. Overall condition is about good.