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Rare Early Production Marked Wickham Model 1816 Musket with Gloucester Brigade (New Jersey) Markings

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
Rare Early Production Marked Wickham Model 1816 Musket with Gloucester Brigade (New Jersey) Markings
Early style, produced between 1822 and 1837 by M.T. Wickham of Philadelphia. Front band mounted blade sight, with a bayonet lug atop the muzzle, "S.N.J" just ahead of the breech, and "F/ P/ US" on the left side. The lock plate is fitted with a detachable brass flash pan and reinforced heart cutout hammer, and marked "M.T.WICKHAM" in an arc over "PHILa" in front of the hammer and correctly undated behind the hammer. Smooth straight grip stock with a button tip ramrod, sling swivels, "V / GF" and "S.N.J" stamped on the left flat, "BRIGADE GLOUCESTER" stamped alongside the trigger guard finial and on the underside of the buttstock. Included with the musket are 3 framed items and a book: 1) a 9"x7" etching of a gentleman , signed "John Clement", with information on the back on one Brigadier General John Clement (b.9/10/1769, d.7/4/1855), a New Jersey Militia commander, postmaster, father of 13 and "a very tall man", with reference to page 213 of "The History of Camden County, N. J.", by George Prowell. 2) Battalion Order dated 6 October, 1828 ordering the First Independent Battalion of the Gloucester Brigade to parade in Red Bank, N. J., in celebration of the 51st anniversary of the victory over the Hessians in the Revolutionary War. 3) A notice from John Clement, Paymaster of Gen. Elmer's Brigade, dated July 5, 1815, announcing a series of 7 towns where he would be to make payouts to the officers and men of the Brigade. 4) "The American Militia Officer's Manual", by J. G. Dyckman, dated 1825, a small leather bound book. Notes from a previous owner state that this grouping was purchased from a Clement family member's estate.
BBL: 42 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 69
Finish: bright
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Fine, with signs of an old cleaning on the barrel and bands, which have re-aged with light fine surface discoloration and spotting, and the lock plate and hammer show a smooth copper coloring. Stock is very fine, with a minor bruise on left side of wrist, a few light nicks and dings, and a fine oil finish. Mechanically excellent. Etching (1) is very fine, slightly yellowed with darker spots on the right and bottom edges. The 1828 order (2) is moderately yellowed with minimal creasing and foxing. The 1815 order (3) is moderately yellowed with wrinkling and light tears along the edges, a few small holes on the right side (not effecting the text) and a section in the upper right corner where someone used the order as scratch paper. Book (4) has detached covers, damage to the spine and foxing & yellowing on the pages.