1808 Contract Musket by William and John Henry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1809-12. 44 1/4 in., .77 caliber round barrel with eagle's head over 'CT' mark on the left side of the breech along with the number '6'; flat lock plate with pointed tail marked 'J.HENRY/PHILA' and with remnants of the eagle over 'US' below the pan, the interior of the plate marked 'AH'; walnut stock with traces of cartouche on the left side; iron furniture of proper form, steel rammer with button head and threaded end, (barrel probably reconverted and with overall light pitting and more extensive pitting at the breech; lock reconverted, stock has dings, dents, abrasions, and sliver losses along rammer channel, lacking sling swivels). Overall lg. 59 in. Footnotes: Note The Henrys signed a contract on June 30, 1808, to supply 10,000 stands of arms at the cost of $10.75 each to be delivered to the Schuylkill Arsenal within five years. Surviving records indicate that they delivered at least 4,014 stands by the end of 1812 (Peter A. Schmidt, U.S. Military Flintlock Muskets and Their Bayonets, The Early Years 1790-1815, (Woonsocket, R.I.; Andrew Mowbray Publishers, 2006), pp. 188-196). The Henrys were the first to receive contracts for muskets under the 1808 militia act. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing