Original Item: One of a Kind. This a fantastic Long Land Pattern Brown Bess Musket, the first of many revisions of the Flintlock musket that would serve the British Empire for over 100 years! First fielded in 1722, it would be the standard musket of the line during many 18th century conflicts, before finally being replaced by the P-1740 "Short Land Pattern" in the infantry beginning in 1768. It featured a 0.75" caliber 46 inch long barrel and overall length of 62.5 inches, definitely a substantial arm by today's standards. Many of these would later be updated by being shortened or converted to percussion.

This example is correct to the pattern, with a convex rounded banana shaped lock marked with the correct CROWN / GR under the hammer, and TOWER / 1740 on the lock plate tail. It also has a CROWNED BROAD ARROW "lock viewer's" marking under the flash pan, which is the correct type with a rear shield. The markings are a bit worn due to past oxidation and cleaning of the lock plate. It is an early style three screw lock, which has only a single screw behind the hammer, a style changed between 1757 and 1762 that indicated the use of a shorter sear spring. It also has the correct "swan neck" cock of the period. It does however have a frizzen support bridle attached to the pan, usually not seen until later, so this is definitely an interesting example. The lock is functional, though the tumbler is worn, and it will fire at both half and full cock.

The barrel has an overall peppered patina, but does not show any major rust scaling or pitting. It is marked with WC on the left side of the breech. We can make out the remains of a "CROWN / GR" marking over a CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS marking, indicating Pre-1813 military inspection at the Ordnance Proof house on Tower Wharf close to the Tower of London. There are no other markings that we can see on the musket.

The stock has a lovely dark brown color, showing wear and stress cracks from being over 250 of age. We do not however see any major damage or repairs. Due to wear the carved "outlines" around the lock and side plate are a bit reduced, but still readily evident. All of the brass fittings have a lovely patina of age, and we see no sights that any have been replaced, though the ramrod is definitely a decades-old replacement.

A wonderful example of a Long Land Pattern Brown Bess Musket, the first model of a musket used around the world for over 100 years. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1740
Caliber: 0.75"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 46 inches
Overall Length: 62 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

"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.