James Swan Musket, English Brown Bess Pattern, Marked “16th VA Regt Spotsylvania”, c. 1797

James Swan Musket, English Brown Bess Pattern, Marked “16^th VA Regt Spotsylvania”, c. 1797 – In Giles Cromwell’s highly influential work The Virginia Manufactory of Arms, Charlottesville, Virginia, University Press of Virginia, 1973, in the introduction, he relates a quote attributed to Governor James Monroe: “A defenseless state invites to insult and invasion, and no situation is so much so, as that of a people unarmed.”  Cromwell discusses Virginia’s active efforts to become the only state in the country to operate its own armory and manufacture its own weapons, thereby ultimately resulting in the establishment of The Virginia Manufactory of Arms.  The active process of manufacturing arms proceeded slowly, however, and the first muskets obtained by the state were through private contractors.  The first was the state’s contract with James Swan (1797) for 4,000 stands of arms, deliveries commenced before 1799.  In 1800, the General Assembly legislated that the regiment and county designations of these state-owned weapons should be stamped on each weapon before distribution to local militia organizations. This fine condition Swan manufactured flintlock has lightly stamped on the top of the barrel, near the breech:

“16th VA REGT SPOTSYLVANIA”

This musket remains in superb condition; there appear to be several inspector’s stampings – letter “O” on several areas of the gun, as well as the initials of the militiaman issued the musket, scratched in the cheek side of the butt stock. All of the brass appointments exhibit a pleasing, mustard-yellow, aged patina. The iron / steel elements were finished in the bright and do not evidence any oxidation. The stock remains in superior condition. The tang of the butt plate has initials with the letters tapped into the brass. The firing action is functional, although the hammer only goes to half-cock; the hammer pulls back to full-cock, but does not catch – this could be readily repaired. This is a significant, early Virginia firearm and rarely found in such excellent condition.