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Brown Bess m/1762 signed EB

This is an unusual English gun in that it is fitted with a rear sight; the front sight is the bayonet lug. The barrel and tang are both signed EB, indicating the work may have been done by Ezekiel Baker.

 Ezekiel Baker worked as Master gun-maker for the Tower during the Napoleonic era, and was previously apprenticed to Henry Nock in the 1770s. The lock of the gun shown here has had the hammer replaced and  dog-catch added; probably by the Swedish at a later date.

 The barrel and tang are both marked 623 and both sets of EB stamps are visible in the picture.

It is known that the Swedish official armoury would often change the tang and breech-plug of newly acquired arms. These changed Breech-plugs were internally longer than the English original to move the powder charge 10 mm or so forward of the ignition vent. The charge is thus ignited from behind, which was said to reduce recoil. The gun shown here has a standard (English) sized breech plug and the vent is located in a direct central line with the charge.

The lock is clearly marked with Tower, Crown over GR and the crown arrow that shows the lock was both owned and used by the British military.

The left side of the barrel is marked with the usual crown cepters proof and inspection marks, the numbers E623, the letter H and the initials EB. The side plate is marked 850, but the 5 is an overstamp. the stock is also marked 623 both by the side-plate and behind the butt-plate.

As mentioned, the trigger guard and thimbles all match the furniture on the 1794 India pattern.

The ram-rod entry thimble.

The picture below shows the bayonet lug which also acts as the front sight.