Musket used at the Eureka Stockade

A British Pattern 1842 .75 smooth-bore percussion musket with a full wood stock and brass furniture including three ramrod pipes, used at the Eureka Stockade in 1854.

The butt tang is engraved “A/9L/12th/Regt” and a sale mark of an 'S' is impressed between two opposing broad arrow marks in the middle of the right side of the butt. The percussion lock is marked with a crown over 'VR / TOWER 1848', and held to the stock by two side nails in Lovell cups.

The smooth-bore barrel is secured to the stock by three flat keys. London proof marks and a sale mark are apparent to the breech end of the barrel. The sights are a front post and fixed notch rear. It is fitted with a Lovell's bayonet latch in the brass fore end cap, and is complete with correct sling swivels and steel ramrod.

The musket is accompanied by a British Pattern 1839 socket bayonet. The tapered three-sided blade is offset from its socket on a 90-degree elbow and is slightly curved outwards to facilitate loading the musket when fitted. The inside flat is engraved “John R...” and stamped “W.E.H.”. The socket has a 'zig-zag' slot for attachment to the muzzle and a slot at the mouth for the Hanoverian locking spring latch.