This "firelock" was noted by George Moller as a colonial militia musket on page 61 of "American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume 1: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms." The barrel has a blade front sight, banded transition point, and groove in the breech for a rear sight. The large lock is secured by three screws, has an internal bridle, and does not have a pan bridle. Both the barrel and lock are attributed as from an early 18th century British musket pre-1707 (accidentally noted as prior to 1607 in the book). The barrel tang is secured by a screw passing through the stock from below, and the trigger is fitted in a slot in the stock, not a trigger plate. Moller notes that the early French musket trigger guard and the frizzen are believed to be period replacement parts. The guard is noted by Moller as marked "A&C" on the underside of the rear tang. The forend band and two ramrod ferrules are sheet brass. There is no entry pipe, and the butt is bare and has a rounded heel. Includes an iron ramrod with crudely folded back tip that Moller indicates may have been made to meet requirements for steel rods during the Revolutionary War. Provenance: The George Moller Collection