Brown Bess Contractor?

[Mike Webb]

I recently examined the front half of an India Pattern Brown Bess. The musket stock was broken at the lock. Under the barrel is a stamp that looks like MUNTZE. Anyone ever heard of the name in relation to Brown Bess muskets?

 

[Mike Webb]

Got an answer from a buddy of mine who has a book on British military gunmakers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Muntz was a maker of barrels 1812-1816 and 1825-1829 in Birmingham. The E on the end is likely a C as the book notes MUNTZ Company.