Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is an original British Revolutionary War era Short Land Pattern “Brown Bess” flintlock musket assembled at Dublin Castle and faintly regimentally marked to the 5th Regiment of Foot. The 5th was sent to Boston in 1774 as tensions in the American colonies escalated and elements of the regiment were engaged at Lexington and Concord in April 1775 and at Bunker Hill that June. After the evacuation of Boston, the regiment returned to the campaign in New York, fighting at Long Island and White Plains and taking part in the capture of Fort Washington and Fort Lee. It later served in Howe’s Philadelphia campaign, including the Battle of Brandywine, and was again engaged at Monmouth Court House in 1778.

A Revolutionary War era Brown Bess bearing a surviving 5 - REG't marking therefore has especially strong historical and collector significance. This musket retains its full length 42" .75 caliber smoothbore barrel, early pattern lock features, four brass ramrod pipes, iron ramrod, complete brass furniture, both sling swivels, and an included British socket bayonet with leather scabbard that fits the muzzle correctly. No individual issue record or documented provenance accompanies the musket, so its presence at any particular Revolutionary War engagement cannot be confirmed.

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 Short Land Pattern was a principal British infantry musket during much of the American Revolutionary War period. Its 42" barrel, four ramrod pipes, brass furniture, and full stocked construction distinguish it from the later India Pattern, which used a shorter 39" barrel and three ramrod pipes. This example has a regulation length 42" iron barrel with an approximately .75 caliber smoothbore and measures approximately 58" overall.

The musket bears several unit and inventory markings. The top of the barrel is faintly marked:

5 - REG't

This marking is consistent with issue to the 5th Regiment of Foot, later known after 1784 as the 5th (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot. The brass escutcheon at the rear of the wrist is marked:

5 / 22

This may represent a company and individual weapon number, although the exact meaning cannot be established from the markings alone. The buttplate tang is additionally marked:

93 / 13

This is consistent with an old rack or inventory style marking. The brass sideplate and the area immediately above the buttplate tang are also stamped:

111

The breech retains several British government proof and inspection markings, including two CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS stamps together with a GR / BROAD ARROW acceptance mark. These are period British Ordnance related markings and support the military character of the arm. The proof stamps remain relatively crisp, an important detail given the age and wear of the musket.

The 5th Regiment of Foot was sent to Boston in 1774 as tensions in the American colonies increased. Elements of the regiment participated in the fighting at Lexington and Concord and at Bunker Hill in 1775. After the British evacuation to Halifax, the regiment returned for the New York campaign and saw further service at Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington, and Fort Lee. It later participated in Howe’s Philadelphia campaign, including the Battle of Brandywine, and fought at Monmouth Court House in 1778.

The lockplate is marked beneath the pan:

CROWN / G.R.

representing the royal cypher of King George III. The tail of the lock is marked:

TOWER

The lock also carries a CROWN / BROAD ARROW lock viewer’s mark beneath the flash pan, partly obscured by the frizzen spring.

The lock retains several early construction features, including its curved plate profile, swan neck cock, and the earlier internal screw arrangement behind the cock associated with the sear system. These characteristics are consistent with Revolutionary War era production. The observations supplied do not, however, allow the musket to be assigned confidently to a more precise Short Land Pattern variation or exact year of manufacture.

The flintlock action remains strong and mechanically functional. It holds correctly at half cock and mechanically releases from full cock when the trigger is pulled. These observations describe only the present operation of the lock and do not establish firing safety.

The barrel has matured to an attractive dark gray patina with scattered evidence of light old peppering. The breech proofs remain comparatively crisp, indicating that the metal has not been aggressively polished. The regimental marking also remains visible. The touch hole is well defined, and the smoothbore interior is relatively clean for its age, without major visible fouling or advanced oxidation.

The lockplate has a similarly aged mottled patina. All of the brass furniture has developed a deep mustard colored surface with no indication of recent polishing. The musket retains all four correct brass ramrod pipes, complete brass furniture, both sling swivels, and an original style iron ramrod.

The walnut stock retains the characteristic raised “bannister rail” profile through the wrist and comb together with the expected fore stock swell immediately behind the forward ramrod pipe. The stock remains substantially complete. A small sliver of wood is missing along the left fore stock woodline, and there are several minor stress cracks, but the stock remains structurally very good. Numerous dents, dings, and handling marks are present from service and age, but no major damage, heavy cleaning, or significant restoration was observed. The grain and aged color remain particularly attractive.

The included socket bayonet fits the muzzle correctly and is accompanied by a brass fitted leather scabbard. The bayonet socket shows evidence of old light peppered pitting that has since been cleaned, while the blade remains largely bright with relatively little oxidation. The ricasso is marked:

HADLEY
W. CHAPMAN

Additional markings include:

CROWN / 6
T.C.
W

The maker marking is associated with British socket bayonet production in Sheffield. The T.C. stamp overlaps the lower portion of the maker marking, while the W is positioned toward the bottom of the ricasso. The scabbard remains in very good matured condition with intact leather and an attractive aged patina on the brass fittings.

The bayonet fits the musket correctly, but no matching number or documentary provenance accompanies the set to confirm that the bayonet and scabbard were originally issued with this specific musket.

With its 42" Short Land Pattern barrel, early Tower marked lock, surviving 5th Regiment of Foot marking, additional unit and rack numbers, crisp British proofs, four ramrod pipes, complete brass furniture, both sling swivels, iron ramrod, and fitted marked socket bayonet with scabbard, this is an especially compelling Revolutionary War era British military musket grouping. The faint regimental marking, minor barrel peppering, small fore stock wood loss, stress cracks, old service wear, cleaned peppering on the bayonet socket, and lack of individual battle or bayonet provenance are fully disclosed. It would form an impressive centerpiece in a British military arms, American Revolutionary War, 5th Regiment of Foot, Brown Bess, Short Land Pattern, or advanced flintlock collection.

Specifications (Musket):
Approximate Date of Manufacture: Revolutionary War Era
Model: Short Land Pattern "Brown Bess" Musket
Caliber: .75" Smoothbore
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball and Black Powder
Barrel Length: 42"
Overall Length: 58"
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

Specifications (Bayonet):
Blade Length: 16 3/4"
Blade Style: Triangular
Socket Length: 4"
Overall Length: 21 1/2"
Scabbard Length: 18 1/4"

"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 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.