1856 Tower Musket proof marks

[Huttles94]

Hi all,

A few months ago I made some posts about a old gun on my grandfathers stairwell wall. It has been hung up there since the early 80s and I always wondered what it is.

Anyway found out it is a genuine 1856 Tower musket. My grandfather was given it by a friend way back in the 70's.

It is in lovely condition and I am positive it is still usable, hardly any pitting, almost museum quality (bar all the dust...)

It has a series of proof marks along the side of the chamber, here are the images:

https://i.imgur.com/Ell85Pk.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VwY4JAW.jpg

Any one know what they mean and can you date the gun from them ect? Would love to know as much about it as I can.

Also it is a shame but it is missing the rear sight (has the base, just missing the rest) and I also found out today that it is missing the nipple, though my grandfather might still have it since he said he used it in the past to train his gun dogs. But either way im sure you can by spares for these old rifles today since I have heard they are very popular, granted they will be reproduction parts but thats ok. Would love to surprise my grandfather for Christmas and get it cleaned up and put together.

Anyway thanks for reading.

cheers

[TA6319]

try henry kranks for the nipple, may be worth asking about the sight as well

[tacfoley]

The two opposing arrowheads - looking like this * show that the arm was sold out of service to a dealer. The other marks are those of the proofing.

[Huttles94]

I have read up on the internet that the 21 is most likely the mark for the caliber? Now I thought they were all .577 but I am probably wrong, the same comment was saying that a .577 was marked as 25.

So I wonder what 21 would be? Were these guns made in many different calibers?

[tacfoley]

I have read up on the internet that the 21 is most likely the mark for the caliber? Now I thought they were all .577 but I am probably wrong, the same comment was saying that a .577 was marked as 25.

So I wonder what 21 would be? Were these guns made in many different calibers?

The 21 is not the bore, it is number of lead balls of the same diameter as the bore that weigh one pound. Your 21 bore musket works out at .60cal. It is therefore not a converted Brown Bess - that's .69cal.

Can you post images of the lock, please?

[Huttles94]

The 21 is not the bore, it is number of lead balls of the same diameter as the bore that weigh one pound. Your 21 bore musket works out at .60cal. It is therefore not a converted Brown Bess - that's .69cal.

Can you post images of the lock, please?

ahhh ok I get it now. I do have images of the lock but it was way back and they are not good quality, ill send a link anyway but I am there again on Wednesday so ill get some better pictures then.

Also what nipple thread are these? or does it vary between guns?

Here are the images of the lock, like I said, it is pretty dark and not the best images but i will get more:

https://i.imgur.com/gSBYxZo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vvfUcoA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DICYGOR.jpg

Also as a bonus, here it is on my grandfather wall along with two shotguns:

https://i.imgur.com/Prl4mrs.jpg