Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original British Pattern 1796 “India Pattern” Third Model Brown Bess flintlock musket dating to approximately 1800, with the regulation 39" barrel, full brass furniture, iron ramrod, early swan neck cock, and Board of Ordnance markings. It retains the earlier bannister rail style butt profile and the stock swell around the lower ramrod pipe, giving it the distinctive appearance of an early Napoleonic era India Pattern musket.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The India Pattern Brown Bess, adopted in the late 18th century, became the standard British infantry musket of the Napoleonic Wars and remained in widespread service through the 1815 Waterloo campaign. This example has the full regulation 39" iron barrel in approximately .75 caliber smoothbore and retains the early stock architecture associated with pre-1807 production.

The barrel bears the British military proof and ownership markings:

CROWN
GR
BROAD ARROW

over:

CROWN
CROSSED SCEPTERS

consistent with Pre-1813 military inspection at the Ordnance Proof house on Tower Wharf, close to the Tower of London. Faint additional markings are present on the barrel tang, including a CROWN and what appears to be the number 32.

The lock plate is marked:

CROWN
G.R.

in front of the hammer and

TOWER

on the tail, for King George III and the Tower system of British Ordnance production. Beneath the pan is a crowned broad arrow lock viewer’s mark. The lock retains its early swan neck cock, a feature associated with pre-1808 production and consistent with the circa 1800 dating of this musket.

The lock action remains strong in its present condition, holding correctly at half cock and releasing only at full cock. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the musket is safe to load or fire.

The barrel and iron fittings have developed an attractive peppered patina from age, oxidation, and past cleaning. There is localized powder erosion around the touch hole, where corrosion has affected the right side of the barrel adjacent to the breech.

The stock is made from attractive English walnut and has developed a rich aged color with visible grain throughout. There is expected staining around the barrel pins and metal fittings from oxidation. An old crack extends from the lower lock screw toward the breech, a commonly encountered stress area on long service muskets.

The left side of the butt has been modified by incorporating a cheek rest into the original bannister rail profile. The color and aging of the added work closely match the surrounding stock, suggesting that the alteration was made long ago, though its exact date cannot be determined.

The right side of the butt stock bears a:

BROAD ARROW
B O

Board of Ordnance marking. Both sling swivels remain present and move freely, and the musket retains its correct regulation iron ramrod.

With its early swan neck cock, pre-1813 Board of Ordnance proofing, 39" regulation barrel, bannister rail butt profile, lower stock swell, Board of Ordnance butt marking, complete brass furniture, and original style iron ramrod, this is a compelling early India Pattern Brown Bess from the Napoleonic Wars era. The powder erosion around the touch hole, old stock crack, long ago cheek rest modification, oxidation staining, and general service wear are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a British Napoleonic Wars, Brown Bess, Board of Ordnance, Waterloo era, or advanced flintlock military arms collection.

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1800
Maker: Tower Armory
Model: Third Model "Brown Bess"
Caliber: .75" Musket - worn to .775"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 38 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 54 1/2 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

"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.