GERMAN MATCHLOCK LIGHT MUSKET

GERMAN MATCHLOCK LIGHT MUSKET

01-24789
Cal. .75
NSN

56″ overall, 40″ octagonal to round barrel, 8.25 pounds. Pictured and described on pages 8 and 9 “The Fur Trade”, author Milton Von Damm: “The light matchlock musket was a hybrid between the 14 pound, .75 caliber military musket and the 6 to 8 pound .62 to .68 caliber caliver militia long arm. The French, Dutch, Swedish and English traded a few matchlock guns to Indians in exchange for furs prior to the introduction of the early forms of the superior flintlock technology that began to become available in the 1630’s. It is assumed that the Indians would have preferred the light caliver because it was lighter to carry and more economical in the use of limited powder and lead shot. The caliver has been characterized as the forerunner of the Indian Trade fusil or Northwest gun but it was probably not the only type of matchlock involved in the fur trade. The light musket like this example could be fired without a rest and its large .75 military caliber would have given traders, settlers and Indians an edge in firepower during conflicts in forests and other close quarters”.

PROVENANCE: from The Lifelong Collection of author Milton Von Damm.

STATUS: ANTIQUE