Antique Firearm collecting

[Fronteria]

Hi. Collectors
My India Pattern made by Robert Wheeler, Tower private proof marks, Crown over 99 (inspectors mark or date?) so probably a private purchase by an officer, lock engraved on tail with Wheeler, Crown over GR under pan, Swan neck flintcock.
Some of its furniture is none standard, side plate is the same as the Baker rifle, trigger guard and butt plate are both different from the regular India pattern musket.
Purchased out of New England USA could it be a musket that was captured by US forces during the 1812 war between USA and Canada?
What puzzles me is that the stock has been branded any suggestions as to what the brand means is it the regiment maybe 1st 88th who are the Rangers, the date, the place?
A few photographs at available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fronteria/
My webley service rifle photographs are also on there.
Regards Jeff

[njaw]

Hi. Collectors
My India Pattern made by Robert Wheeler, Tower private proof marks, Crown over 99 (inspectors mark or date?) so probably a private purchase by an officer, lock engraved on tail with Wheeler, Crown over GR under pan, Swan neck flintcock.
Some of its furniture is none standard, side plate is the same as the Baker rifle, trigger guard and butt plate are both different from the regular India pattern musket.
Purchased out of New England USA could it be a musket that was captured by US forces during the 1812 war between USA and Canada?
What puzzles me is that the stock has been branded any suggestions as to what the brand means is it the regiment maybe 1st 88th who are the Rangers, the date, the place?
A few photographs at available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fronteria/
My webley service rifle photographs are also on there.
Regards Jeff

Nice pictures Jeff. I have never seen branding like this before. It's usual to see storage numbers etc but this is very interesting. They certainly didn't want their muskets going missing! If you have no joy here, one of the magazines I subscribe to has a Q&A section which I am confident will answer your question. Otherwise, you could always try a cheeky email to a good online dealer like West Street (great chaps) who may be able to help. By the way, the over and under pistol I own by Wheeler can be found here...

http://s382.photobucket.com/albums/o...view=slideshow