1750s Long Land Model Brown Bess Musket

1750s Long Land Model Brown Bess Musket – This Brown Bess is only the second of these somewhat rare muskets we have had. This example appears to date to the late 1750s to early 1760s, as the lock plate, in addition to the “Tower” marking, has a “GR III” stamping, indicative of the insertion of the plate sometime after 1760, when George III assumed the throne. This musket appears to be an early Brown Bess, referred to as the 1st Long Land Model, the first of British muskets to adopt brass hardware. Developed in the 1720s, this musket was used all the way up to the American Revolution; there are a number of versions of the musket. Additional changes were made to its design in 1742, however the basic look remained the same. The major change for the 1742 was the introduction of the double bridle to the lock, coupled with a Seven Years War war-time steel rammer. While a new model was introduced in 1756, officials were insistent that the new musket would not be issued until the 1742 Long Land Musket stocks with Regiments and in the armories had been depleted. This practice was confirmed when the 77th and 78th Regiments (Montgomery’s and Fraser’s Highlanders) were raised in 1757 for service in North America; instead of receiving the new model, they received the 1742 model. In addition, the reported replacement by numerous regiments of wooden rammers with steel ones, also confirms the universal use of the 1742 model in the French and Indian War. The British eventually switched back to the steel ramrod in the 1750s when the 1756 version was introduced. During the Seven Years War (French and Indian War) numerous regiments carrying wooden rammers were ordered to switch to steel ones.

This Brown Bess appears to be, for the most part, an early, Long Land Model, perhaps a 1742 model, which had a “new” lock plate, inserted in the late 1750s to early 1760s, when George III became king. Most of the musket conforms to the 1742 model, as it has a steel rammer, yet it was not until the 1756 model Brown Bess was approved did the Long Land officially receive a nose cap. This example has a brass nose cap.

This musket remains in overall very good condition, although the hammer weakly cocks and does not return to a firing or flint striking position, unless pushed to do so. There is a small, repaired crack in the wrist of the stock, which is barely visible. A brass shield, on the upper side of the stock wrist, has the regimental numbers “3/38”.

Measurements: Overall Length – 61.5” ; Barrel Length – 45.5”