Very Rare York City Militia 2nd Pattern Musket by Ketland

NSN, .75 Caliber, 41 7/8" barrel with a fair, pitted bore.  This is one of a number of Land Pattern type muskets built by Ketland &Co. under contract to the militia of the City of York sometime around 1760.  The barrel and lock of this musket has an overall mottled gray patina with some areas of light-moderate pitting scattered about, and a mild yellow-ochre patina on the brass fittings.  The top of the barrel has a partial rack number still visible "(No. ?)07" engraved near the breech, while the lockplate is engraved, "Ketland / & Co." in flowing script.  The area around the vent has been lightly cleaned, however borescope inspection of the breech reveals no evidence of welding or reconversion.  The pin-fastened stock has numerous handling marks, bruises and blemishes scattered about the added oil finish, with some old repairs visible on the buttstock.  The left side of the butt has the large York Militia rack number characteristic of these muskets carved near the heel: "Y+C / 110."  These muskets were furnished with Brown Bess type metal ramrods, and one is still present, although the sling bail is no longer present on the forend and the ramrod tailpipe is slightly dented.  The lock is fully functional and locks firmly at half and full-cock.  These muskets were similar to the earlier Watkins-made muskets hastily procured in 1745 to defend York from advancing Jacobite forces.  They had similar markings and specifications, but were made more closely in line with regular British "Brown Bess" muskets then in official use.  Many of these were sold off to America during the 1970s, and this example is in very good-fine condition.