Description
This is the only known brass or bronze Hall breech loading musket. It is stamped serial number 1 into the breechblock. There also appears to be a letter "P" stamped on the top of the breechblock. The musket is 58 inches overall with a 36 inch two-stage octagon and round smooth bore barrel of .56 caliber. The breechblock is very large being 7.5 inches long. The stock is of cherry. There is mention in the Hall ledgers, (now in the Maine State Museum), of brass barrelled rifles and fusils. The markings are all engraved "J.H. Hall, Portland" in script and "Patent" on the breechblock. Hall received his patent for the breech-loading gun in 1811.
The Hall records also mention a brass musket being returned for cleaning and repair at a later date.
It is not known for certain if this is Hall's prototype or one made for the Navy as records indicate the Navy had interest in his breech-loading muskets possibly for The U.S.S. Constitution.
Only recented exhibited and offerred for sale.
This is a rare opportunity to aquire a significant piece of American Firearm History.
For further details referred to "Maine Made Guns & Their Makers New Edition 1997" by Dwight B. Demerritt, Jr.
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