I am posting the following announcement for my institution:

Exhibition Opening:

Colonial Williamsburg's important collection of early Anglo-American Firearms
- collected over six decades - is featured in the new exhibit, "Lock, Stock,
and Barrel: Early Firearms from the Colonial Williamsburg Collection."

The exhibit, in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Gallery, features many of
the most significant of these arms.  A rare group of 17th-century guns like
those brought from England by the first Colonial settlers, utilitarian guns
like those owned by many 18th century American colonists, and elaborate and
expensive arms which belonged to the last Royal Governor of Virginia are
showcased in this exhibit.  In addition there are arms from the American
Revolution and several outstanding examples of American Longrifles -
"Kentucky Rifles" - which were made by Virginia gunsmiths are also featured.

One of the most historically significant groups of firearms in the Colonial
Williamsburg Collection are more than 300 18th-century British millitary
muskets and pistols which is the most significant collection of it's kind
outside of the Tower of London Collection.

"Lock, Stock and Barrel" has drawn from this historic British millitary
collection to present, for the first time, a comprehensive grouping which
traces the evolution of the standard British infantry musket from the early
18th-century through the Napoleonic Wars.

The exhibition represents a collaboration between Colonial Williamsburg and
guest curator Dr. DeWitt Bailey.  Dr. Bailey is one of the world's leading
experts on British Millitary firearms. He has spent more than 25 years
studying British government records and examining & surveying surviving
weapons.  He has served as a consultant to the Royal Armouries at the Tower
of London, the Imperial War Museum in London, and the Bavarian Army Museum in
Ingolstadt, as well  other American Museums.

Dr. Bailey will be on hand to celebrate the openning of this new exhibition
and he will present a public lecture on 18th-century British Millitary
Muskets at 4 pm., Saturday, November 11.  The lecture will be held in the
Hennage auditorium, adjacent to the exhibit, in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative
Arts Gallery.  For more information concerning lecture admission and location
please call  804-220-7724.


David Harvey
Conservator of Metals & Arms
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776  USA
voice:     804-220-7039
e-mail:   [log in to unmask]