Excavated India Pattern Brown Bess with Blacksmith Percussion Conversion

NSN, .75 Caliber, 39 1/4" barrel with a fair, lightly pitted bore.  This is a handsome, "TOWER" and "(Crown) / GR" marked musket that has an overall plum-brown patina throughout, with moderate-heavy pitting around the breech and lock, and some thin surface oxidation in spots as well.  The lock itself was modified for percussion by removal of the pan, frizzen, and frizzen spring, installation of a drum and nipple at the vent, and use of a specially made hammer insert held by the jaws of the original cock.  The lock is fully functional and the mainspring is still quite strong.  The walnut stock has minor handling marks and blemishes throughout, with small scattered surface chips, as well as some wood erosion along the edges of the forearm.  The musket comes with a later iron ramrod that has an overall dark gray patina with very little freckling or other surface blemishes.  This particular musket was once part of the collection of Canadian Fur Trade expert, Bob Hallam, and was sold to noted author Michael Carrick by the well-known Canadian dealer John Denner in 2013.  An original tag that accompanied the musket since its discovery in the 1980s is also included that states that the gun was discovered buried in a garden in the Strathcona neighborhood of Edmonton, AB.  This is a great piece of Great Plains history, and would make a splendid addition to any collection.  Antique