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1813 DATED POMEROY CONNECTICUT 1808 TYPE CONTRACT MUSKET
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$1,895.00
Quantity Available: 1
Item Code: 2025-399
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Lemuel Pomeroy, of Pittsfield, Mass., got into the arms making business after his Springfield factory, making plows and sleighs, burned down and he bought the Whitney Forge in Pittsfield in 1808. His first contracts were with the state of New York, followed by Massachusetts and Connecticut, and he later supplied substantial numbers of muskets to U.S. government as well as barrels to Springfield. His muskets generally follow the Springfield pattern combined with aspects of Whitney’s muskets. One characteristic is his use of a flat, beveled lock plate with the rear arcing back to form a simple point; another is his use of a level, brass flash pan. For details see Flayderman and Moller.
This is in very good condition overall, in original flint with all bands, springs, swivels, rod and bayonet stud in place, very carefully and just lightly cleaned at some point, retaining good edges to the wood and sharp markings. The wood has a good surface, showing a pleasing deep brown color and a relatively few handling marks- some light dings and shallow dents on the right and belly of the buttstock, with a more noticeable gouge on the upper left, good edges to the lock apron and side flat, a few light dings to the sideflat and one shallow chip forward from it, the forestock showing just light handling marks and good edges to the rammer channel. The wood to metal fit is very good. The barrel shows smooth metal back to the rear band with a mix of silver gray and darker gray spots, and shade a bit darker with some thin brown toward the breech with some shallow pitting. The barrel bands and lock show more of a darker gray and the hammer some thin brown.
The markings are excellent- sharp and fully legible. The lock plate s stamped with a simple “S. CT.” that some take to mean “State Contract” and others to be “State of Connecticut,” which seems to be Moller’s view (2.203-205.) That marking is clearly repeated on the left breech next to barrel proofs “P” and “M” over “SJ” and “1813.” We even see a small capital “E” in the wood just to the rear of the triggerguard tang.
Pomeroy is thought to have received a Connecticut contract for 1,000 muskets in 1812, part of a larger appropriation for 3,000 muskets parceled out by the state to him and two other makers. He apparently completed his delivery by October 1813 and some were quickly issued. Somewhat more information than normal is available on his muskets since a few apparently blew up in the hands of the militia. I was felt that powder used in the initial proofing may have been defective and understrength, and in Fall 1814 some 950 of Pomeroy’s muskets were retested by Elisha Buell at the Hartford Armory. Forty-seven were rejected because of visible defects. Another 95 burst in the testing. The remainder were approved: “Seven hundred and ninety stood the proof. They have been proved with Proof Powder again, agreeable to the standard of the United States, & I think full confidence may be placed in them.”
This is a very strong example of a War of 1812 flintlock musket with a tight Connecticut connection. [sr][ph:L]
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