I've got a musket thats been in my family for a long time.  I'd like to replace some missing parts and refinish it.  Any good places online you guys know about?  

Its a Tower Musket for what it matters



Thanks  

Try Dixie Gun works..

Try here

Dixie

a Forum

Cool rifle! Any family history to go along with it?

thanks for the links.

as far as history, all my dad could tell me is 'its been in the family for along time' , he didn't know any more

Looks like a conversion from the Brown Bess.  You might want to find a smith who can restore it to flintlock.  In either case, you still need to get a ramrod for it.

Quoted: Looks like a conversion from the Brown Bess.  You might want to find a smith who can restore it to flintlock.  In either case, you still need to get a ramrod for it.

Agree, and you may not want to do too much "refinishing".  Joe

thanks for the help id'ing it.  Here's some closer pics...

Clean and repair but please don't refinish.  Not only will you destroy its value, but you will permanently destroy its charm.

I have one similar, it still has the flint lock.. I was told mine was a third generation Brown Bess, and dated in the early 1800's............looks good........

Quoted: Clean and repair but please don't refinish.  Not only will you destroy its value, but you will permanently destroy its charm.

i guess i misspoke, i meant restore, not refinish.

It's a Bess.  Those extra holes in the front portion of the lockplate were for the frizzen spring.  

Now, there's two ways to approach this.  Keep it as is, especially if it's a military conversion.  Second, restore it.  This is more expensive and will destroy its historical value.  Most museums would go for option #1.

BTW, any markings on the thumbpiece or the stock?  It might suggest what unit was issued the Bess.

Quoted: It's a Bess.  Those extra holes in the front portion of the lockplate were for the frizzen spring.   Now, there's two ways to approach this.  Keep it as is, especially if it's a military conversion.  Second, restore it.  This is more expensive and will destroy its historical value.  Most museums would go for option #1. BTW, any markings on the thumbpiece or the stock?  It might suggest what unit was issued the Bess.

On the stock theres a "BO" engraved into it with an arrow pointing up above it.  Theres also a small engraving on the thumb side, very faint, looks like an O,J, and thee other letters that i can't decipher.

The plate is identical to this...



but with a crown added above the "GR"

The barrel also has three different engravings.  A crown with "GR" under it, with an arrow below the "GR".   The initials "SG" are next to that, and another crown with an "x' is below the first group.

From my quick reading on google, it appears this was a british government issue that was converted later.  I doubt it ever saw the Civil War.  My family didn't arrrive to America until after the war.  Before america, they were in Canada for a few generation after leaving England.

thanks for all the help.

been on google all day now.

It apears that its a 'third model' India Pattern Brown Bess. thx for the help.