A British Brown Bess that began life as a flintlock and was later changed over to percussion. It runs about 54.5 inches end to end, built around a 39-inch round smoothbore tube in .75 caliber. The proof stamps survive but are worn, and the digits 841 sit on top of the tube. Tower is cut into the tail of the lock, a crown over GR at its middle, with faint remains of a crown over broad arrow to the right. A Maltese cross over a crown and GB suggests German-speaking work, and the pivoting cap guard added to the lock is so neat the seam is hard to spot.

Taken as found: rust inside the fair bore, a smooth gray-brown skin on the steel, sound brass, and a stock rated good that wears old service dents and dings yet no cracks or chips. The mechanism works. It belongs with a South Carolina collector of British military longarms rather than in a deer stand.

Key features

• .75 caliber smoothbore, 39-inch round barrel
• About 54.5 inches overall
• Tower lock, crown over GR
• Germanic percussion conversion with pivoting nipple protector
• Action functions correctly

Long guns ship to a licensed South Carolina dealer for pickup after the federal check.