Original Item: One of a Kind. Offered here is an extraordinary and historically important early British military flintlock musket dating to 1719, representing one of the earliest developmental forms that would eventually evolve into the legendary Brown Bess.

Produced before the official adoption of the standardized British Land Pattern Musket, this remarkable survivor represents the transitional period when the Board of Ordnance was working toward creating a unified infantry arm for the British Army. The design concepts seen on muskets such as this would directly influence the King’s Pattern Land Musket, later universally known as the Brown Bess, which would serve the British Empire for more than a century.

This is almost certainly the earliest example of this evolutionary British military pattern that we have ever offered.

During the early 18th century, particularly after King George I took the throne in 1714, the British military began moving away from the older system where individual Colonels had significant influence over the arms supplied to their regiments. These so-called “Colonel’s Muskets” varied considerably in details, but they served as the testing ground for features that would eventually become standardized by the Board of Ordnance.

This 1719 musket belongs to that fascinating developmental period. Unlike later standardized Brown Bess muskets, it retains several early characteristics, including full iron furniture with iron ramrod pipes and an iron wrist escutcheon. It also lacks the later style nose cap, another feature separating it from the first official patterns introduced in the 1720s.

Unlike many privately supplied Colonel’s muskets, this example appears to have been produced through the Tower system for the Board of Ordnance itself, making it an especially significant link in British military firearms development.

Many features of these early muskets were influenced by Dutch infantry arms acquired during the reign of Queen Anne for use during the War of the Spanish Succession. Dutch firearms were highly regarded, and their influence can clearly be seen in the evolution of British military designs.

The striated trigger guard with pinched ends and the distinctive needle-like projection from the butt plate tang are both characteristics associated with Dutch military arms of the period. Other features, including the 46-inch .75 caliber barrel, serpentine side plate, pronounced fore stock swell, and deeply formed handrail butt stock design, were all elements that would influence the eventual Brown Bess pattern.

In many ways, this musket represents the bridge between earlier British Pattern 1703 arms and the famous standardized Land Pattern Muskets of the 18th century. It is closely related in design and construction to known Colonel’s muskets produced by makers such as Predden during the same period.

The lock is an outstanding early feature of this musket. It retains the original flat, unbeveled “banana” shaped form and is marked:

CROWN / GR

beneath the hammer for King George I.

The lock plate tail is marked:

TOWER / 19

indicating Tower production in 1719.

The lock also bears the correct early Crowned Broad Arrow inspection marking beneath the flash pan, representing the government lock viewer’s acceptance mark.

This is the early three-screw lock configuration, with only one screw positioned behind the hammer. This style was later changed between approximately 1757 and 1762 with the adoption of different internal arrangements. The lock also retains the early simplified swan neck cock and lacks the later frizzen support bridle, exactly as expected for this early design.

Mechanically, the lock remains functional, holding at half cock and firing from full cock, though operation is somewhat stiff from age. The frizzen has had a new striking face soldered or brazed in place during its working life, almost certainly after extensive use wore the original surface.

The musket clearly saw a very long service life, evidenced by the powder erosion around the touch hole and the bore wear. Originally approximately .75 caliber, the bore now measures about .76 caliber from generations of use.

The barrel displays an attractive aged peppered patina without major rust scaling or severe pitting except around the touch hole area, where heavy firing wear would be expected.

The left side of the breech appears marked:

20

The top of the barrel retains the correct early British military proof markings:

CROWN / GR

over:

CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS

These indicate inspection at the Ordnance Proof House located at Tower Wharf near the Tower of London prior to the later 1813 marking changes.

The stock displays a wonderful deep aged brown color developed over more than three centuries. It shows the expected handling wear, stress cracks, and evidence of long service. The stock was likely finished in a solid brown finish originally, portions of which remain visible, particularly along the fore stock.

There is expected cracking and chipping around the lock area, as commonly encountered on very early military flintlocks, along with some wear and material loss along the barrel channel. There appear to be old repairs along the barrel wood line, though it is difficult to determine whether any wood was replaced.

Importantly, the classic early design features remain clearly visible, including the pronounced ramrod entry swell and the distinctive “bannister rail” profile of the butt stock.

The stock also bears carved initials:

JM

These initials are particularly intriguing and present an excellent research opportunity. By the time of the French & Indian War and later American Revolutionary period, early pre-Brown Bess muskets such as this were considered obsolete for front line British service. Many older arms were sent to North America for use by colonial militia forces. It is certainly possible that these initials represent later Colonial or American ownership.

Both sling swivels remain present and move freely. The musket also retains an excellent iron-mounted wooden ramrod complete with clearing worm on the narrow end.

Overall, this is an extraordinary survivor from the earliest period of British standardized military arms development. Manufactured in 1719 under King George I, this musket represents the direct ancestor of the legendary Brown Bess, the firearm that would arm British forces across the globe throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries.

With its Tower marked lock, early iron furniture, transitional design features, possible Colonial connection, and remarkable age, this is a museum-worthy example of early British military firearms history.

A rare opportunity to acquire one of the foundational designs that led to one of the most famous military muskets ever produced.

Ready for further research and display.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1719
Caliber: Approximately .76 Caliber
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball and Black Powder
Barrel Length: 46 Inches
Overall Length: 61 5/8 Inches
Action Type: Flintlock
Feed System: Single Shot Muzzle Loader

"Brown Bess" is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's muzzle-loading smoothbore flintlock Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. The musket design remained in use for over a hundred years with many incremental changes in its design. These versions include the Long Land Pattern, the Short Land Pattern, the India Pattern, the New Land Pattern Musket, and the Sea Service Musket.

The Long Land Pattern musket and its derivatives, all 0.75 inches caliber flintlock muskets, were the standard long guns of the British Empire's land forces from 1722 until 1838, when they were superseded by a percussion cap smoothbore musket. The British Ordnance System converted many flintlocks into the new percussion system known as the Pattern 1839 Musket. A fire in 1841 at the Tower of London destroyed many muskets before they could be converted. Still, the Brown Bess saw service until the middle of the nineteenth century.

Most male citizens of the thirteen colonies of British America were required by law to own arms and ammunition for militia duty. The Long Land Pattern was a common firearm in use by both sides in the American War of Independence.

In 1808 during the Napoleonic Wars, the United Kingdom subsidized Sweden (during the period when Finland was under Swedish rule) in various ways as the British government anxiously wanted to keep an ally in the Baltic Sea region. These included deliveries of significant numbers of Brown Bess-muskets for use in the Finnish War of 1808 to 1809.

During the Musket Wars (1820s–30s), Māori warriors used Brown Besses purchased from European traders at the time. Some muskets were sold to the Mexican Army, which used them during the Texas Revolution of 1836 and the Mexican–American War of 1846 to 1848. Brown Besses saw service in the First Opium War and during the Indian rebellion of 1857. Zulu warriors, who had also purchased them from European traders, used them during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. One was even used in the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, during the American Civil War.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.