Jeff Miller, Warren Halstead, John Getz and Mel Hankla

This early smoothbore arm was the "brain-child" of Tom Patton, noted student and collector of early French Trade trade guns other related arms. This contemporary artistic statement is a product of three craftsmen each contracted to work in their area of expertise. The arm was designed to represent an Indian musket taken by Hannah Duston who was a colonial New England woman who having been captured in March of 1697, during an Indian raid, escaped from her captors by killing them in the night, taking a musket and other plunder and fleeing in their canoe. She is believed to be the first woman honored in the United States with a statue. Her story can be read in detail at Kingsley Locke and Hannah Dustin.

The iron mounts of the piece and the hand made flintlock are by Jeff Miller, well-known blacksmith and artisan at Old Sturbridge Village. I think it should be mentioned that the large double throated cock was made to emulate a later replacement. The barrel was custom made by John Getz and was stocked up by Warren Halstead. It was then handed to Mel Hankla for final shaping, finishing, aging, and the addition of shell wampum decoration in very symbolic Indian motifs.

The overall design of the piece follows existing examples of period muskets from the last quarter of the 17th. Century.








Photos by Jan Riser.