Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 1077

(A) LOT OF 2: AMERICAN CONTINENTAL 20TH REGIMENT BRANDED BRITISH PATTERN 1756 FL...

Estimate
US$40,000 - US$80,000
Price realised:
n. a.
Auction archive: Lot number 1077

(A) LOT OF 2: AMERICAN CONTINENTAL 20TH REGIMENT BRANDED BRITISH PATTERN 1756 FL...

Estimate
US$40,000 - US$80,000
Price realised:
n. a.
Beschreibung:

The following history surrounding this carbine is from a description done for the buyer by James L. Kochan: "During 1776, the need to arm the new Highland Regiments (Fraser's and Montgomery's) with shorter and lighter longarms prior to deployment in America led to the issuance of light horse carbines then in store at the Tower of London as a stop-gap measures until special arms could be developed and put into production. Approximately half of all these carbines were originally stocked to the muzzle and thus, incapable of accepting a socket bayonet; the carbines were altered at the Tower by cutting back the forestock approximately 4-1/2", placing a thing nose cap of sheet brass to the end of the forestock and brazing a stud of the top of the barrel to accept the bayonet. Additional alterations include removing the side bar and ring for a horseman's belt (the sidebar being screwed to the sideplate and swell of the stock) the forestock hole being plugged and a new hole drilled on the forestock to accept a front sling swivel, as well as brazing a brass stud of the trigger guard to take a rear sling swivel, thereby allowing the attachment of a leather foot soldier sling to the carbine. These alterations ceased after 1759, when a new pattern carbine for Highland and Light Infantry was developed that had slightly stronger mounting and a 42" barrel. In summer 1775, Colo Samuel Cleaveland, senior Royal Artillery officer in America, requested the Board of Ordnance to ship 2,000 carbines to Boston on the orders of General Thomas Gage commander-in-chief in America. These light firearms were intended for sergeants in the battalion companies of all standing British Infantry regiments in America, where were then carrying halberds, an axe-like polearm that also doubled as a badge of rank; halberds were deemed both impractical and unwielding for the active field service anticipated in the coming spring campaign. The obvious arm of choice was the P1771 Sergeant of Grenadiers carbine, which had also been issued to light infantry sergeants when those companies were added to regiments in 1771-1772, but there were no ready stocks of such specialized arms on hand to meet the large demands coming from America. The Board of Ordnance decided to refit 2,000 of the remaining P1756 Horse carbines in store at the Tower in the same manner that had been done during 1756-1758 for Highland troops. The carbines were sent aboard two Ordnance storeships that fall, with orders to join the Cork convoy then assembling for departure to America. Delays prevented the departure of this fleet until early 1776 and during a storm, the Ordnance transport 'Hope', which carried 1,000 of the carbines and bayonet, packed in 40 chests, was separated from the rest of the convoy. She arrived off Nantasket Roads on May 17th, 1776 and was captured by one of General Washington's privateers, the Continental schooner 'Franklin', Captain James Mugford commanding, with a crew of 20 other Marblehead men. The carbines, about half of which were sent to Connecticut, were subsequently ordered on to New York by General Washington, who desperately needed arms for his troops (then preparing for an anticipated attack upon that city by the combined British army and fleet). However, one of the Continental regiments raised in Connecticut for one-year's service and also under orders for New York, was still destitute of arms. It was thus determined to issue enough carbines from the Connecticut stock to equip Durkee's 20th Continental Regiment before its march to New York." The carbine has a standard tapered round barrel with bayonet lug mounted on top near the muzzle. There are traces of British ordnance proofs on to of the breech, which were most likely removed at the time of capture. The rounded carbine lockplate is marked "EDGE / 1762" at the tail and with traces of the large engraved crown in the center. Most of the crown, as well as the small crown over an arrow beneath the pan, have been intent

Auction archive: Lot number 1077
Auction:
Datum:
30 Oct 2019
Auction house:
Morphy Auctions
North Reading Road 2000
Denver PA 17517
United States
info@morphyauctions.com
+1 (0)877 968-8880
+1 (0)717 336-7115
Beschreibung:

The following history surrounding this carbine is from a description done for the buyer by James L. Kochan: "During 1776, the need to arm the new Highland Regiments (Fraser's and Montgomery's) with shorter and lighter longarms prior to deployment in America led to the issuance of light horse carbines then in store at the Tower of London as a stop-gap measures until special arms could be developed and put into production. Approximately half of all these carbines were originally stocked to the muzzle and thus, incapable of accepting a socket bayonet; the carbines were altered at the Tower by cutting back the forestock approximately 4-1/2", placing a thing nose cap of sheet brass to the end of the forestock and brazing a stud of the top of the barrel to accept the bayonet. Additional alterations include removing the side bar and ring for a horseman's belt (the sidebar being screwed to the sideplate and swell of the stock) the forestock hole being plugged and a new hole drilled on the forestock to accept a front sling swivel, as well as brazing a brass stud of the trigger guard to take a rear sling swivel, thereby allowing the attachment of a leather foot soldier sling to the carbine. These alterations ceased after 1759, when a new pattern carbine for Highland and Light Infantry was developed that had slightly stronger mounting and a 42" barrel. In summer 1775, Colo Samuel Cleaveland, senior Royal Artillery officer in America, requested the Board of Ordnance to ship 2,000 carbines to Boston on the orders of General Thomas Gage commander-in-chief in America. These light firearms were intended for sergeants in the battalion companies of all standing British Infantry regiments in America, where were then carrying halberds, an axe-like polearm that also doubled as a badge of rank; halberds were deemed both impractical and unwielding for the active field service anticipated in the coming spring campaign. The obvious arm of choice was the P1771 Sergeant of Grenadiers carbine, which had also been issued to light infantry sergeants when those companies were added to regiments in 1771-1772, but there were no ready stocks of such specialized arms on hand to meet the large demands coming from America. The Board of Ordnance decided to refit 2,000 of the remaining P1756 Horse carbines in store at the Tower in the same manner that had been done during 1756-1758 for Highland troops. The carbines were sent aboard two Ordnance storeships that fall, with orders to join the Cork convoy then assembling for departure to America. Delays prevented the departure of this fleet until early 1776 and during a storm, the Ordnance transport 'Hope', which carried 1,000 of the carbines and bayonet, packed in 40 chests, was separated from the rest of the convoy. She arrived off Nantasket Roads on May 17th, 1776 and was captured by one of General Washington's privateers, the Continental schooner 'Franklin', Captain James Mugford commanding, with a crew of 20 other Marblehead men. The carbines, about half of which were sent to Connecticut, were subsequently ordered on to New York by General Washington, who desperately needed arms for his troops (then preparing for an anticipated attack upon that city by the combined British army and fleet). However, one of the Continental regiments raised in Connecticut for one-year's service and also under orders for New York, was still destitute of arms. It was thus determined to issue enough carbines from the Connecticut stock to equip Durkee's 20th Continental Regiment before its march to New York." The carbine has a standard tapered round barrel with bayonet lug mounted on top near the muzzle. There are traces of British ordnance proofs on to of the breech, which were most likely removed at the time of capture. The rounded carbine lockplate is marked "EDGE / 1762" at the tail and with traces of the large engraved crown in the center. Most of the crown, as well as the small crown over an arrow beneath the pan, have been intent

Auction archive: Lot number 1077
Auction:
Datum:
30 Oct 2019
Auction house:
Morphy Auctions
North Reading Road 2000
Denver PA 17517
United States
info@morphyauctions.com
+1 (0)877 968-8880
+1 (0)717 336-7115
Try LotSearch

Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!

  • Search lots and bid
  • Price database and artist analysis
  • Alerts for your searches
Create an alert now!

Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.

Create an alert