Original Item: Only One Available. Acquired recently from a large military show, this is a fantastic well-marked third Pattern Brown Bess, with the 39" barrel adopted in 1796. Also known as the "India Pattern", it was the standard Musket of the line during 1815, the time of the Battle of Waterloo. This example also still retains the "bannister rail" butt stock, a feature that was basically done away with after 1807. The musket has a full 39" regulation length, .75" smoothbore iron barrel.

The lock plate is correctly marked with CROWN over G.R. mid lock for King George III, and TOWER across the tail. There is also the CROWN / BROAD ARROW lock viewer's mark from the ordnance proofhouse under the pan. The lock has a ring neck cock, indicating post-1808 construction, one of many improvements made during the course of the Napoleonic wars. It is also equipped with the frizzen support bridle on the pan, and two screws behind the lock, both late 18th Century improvements to the design. The breech of the barrel bears the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the English city of Birmingham on the top near the breech, which began to be used circa 1813 for Black Powder Arms.

It has all regulation brass furniture, including three ramrod pipes, together with correct issue iron ramrod. Shows use but remains in amazingly tight and clean condition. Action is strong and holds at half cock, firing correctly at full cock. The lock is quite clean and in very good shape. The barrel has a lovely patina of age, showing some wear from powder burn near the touch hole, as well as overall oxidation and peppering, now cleaned away. It definitely looks to have seen long service, probably into the Victorian era.

The tang of the brass butt plate plate has a lovely regimental marking, which is still clear, and helps give some great history to this piece:-

3 2 - REG'T

The 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot saw extensive service during the Napoleonic wars, having fought during many barrels, including the final Battle of Waterloo. This musket is the correct style, and definitely could have been there!

The stock has a lovely color, showing wear and age, with just some cracks around the bottom of the lock and missing wood on the right upper side of the butt stock next to the butt plate tang. We do not see any major repairs or alterations, and it still retains the early style "swell" around the first ramrod pipe. The wood has a lovely color and polished glow that would look fantastic under any type of lighting. The carved surround for the barrel tang is still crisp. The ramrod is still present and in very good shape, however both sling swivels have been removed from the musket.

A lovely example of the Third Model Brown Bess, marked to a regiment that used these muskets extensively during the Napoleonic Wars, including the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1812
Caliber: .75" Musket
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 39 inches
Overall Length: 55 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded 

The 32nd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1702. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1881.

The regiment was first raised by Colonel Edward Fox as Edward Fox’s Regiment of Marines in 1702 to fight in the War of Spanish Succession. After the war it was disbanded in 1713 but re-raised as Jacob Borr’s Regiment of Foot in 1714. It then served in Ireland from 1716 to 1734. It served in the war of Austrian succession in Belgium during 1742, and on 1 July 1751 a royal warrant was issued declaring that in future regiments were no longer to be known by their colonel's name, but by the "Number or Rank of the Regiment". Accordingly, General Francis Leighton's Regiment was renamed as the 32nd Regiment of Foot. Then in 1782 all regiments of the line without a royal title were given a county designation and the regiment became the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot.

Under this name the regiment fought throughout the Napoleonic wars, often under Sir Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. The regiment fought at the Battle of Quatre Bras, arriving about 3 pm on 16 June 1815 just in time to help halt the French advance. At the Battle of Waterloo the regiment was stationed opposite the French main attacks, standing their ground before attacking Napoleon's assaulting troops. The 1st Battalion of the regiment was part of the 8th British Brigade commanded by Major-General James Kempt, which was in turn part of the 5th British Infantry Division under Lieutenant-General Thomas Picton. The regiment was commanded on the field by Lieutenant-Colonel John Hicks and numbered at 503 men at the battle of Waterloo having suffered casualties at Quatre Bras. It was two men of the regiment's Grenadier company who bore Pictons' body away after he was fatally shot through the head.

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