Who was Wentz Parker?

[Bill Dwyer]

I picked up an old musket that looks like it could have been owned by Daniel Boone. It has a beautiful full length Tiger stripe stock. It is very early percussion. It has US stamped on it and several other proof marks that I don't know what they mean. It has rifle sights but what looks like a shotgun barrel? It has beautiful polished brass crutiments. The locks say Wentz Parker warranted. The story that I got with this weapon was that it was a proto type made for the military. It converted it to percussion . One of the first percussion weapons? Who knows. It certainly is a beautiful classical piece. The story also goes that Went Parker was one of the early "Parker Bros" Who knows. Any help appreciated.