Pics to identify different Patterns of the Brown Bess
Jan 14, 2021 9:11:09 GMT -7
Black Hand and paranger like this
Post by artificer on Jan 14, 2021 9:11:09 GMT -7
used in America in the 18th century.
Folks, I gratefully acknowledge these pics came from the Colonial Williamsburg Web pages and are of original Muskets in their collections. When you left click on the photo’s they will come up so you can move the view of the muskets around close up.
Unfortunately it seems you will have to copy/paste the links onto your browser as they didn't transfer over in the text.
Pattern 1730 Land Service Musket
This pattern is the first Land Service Musket recognized in the period and today as a “Brown Bess.”
Key features to identify this pattern are the .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, Single Bridle Lock (A Bridle over the Tumbler inside the lock, but No Bridle on the Priming Pan), Wooden Ramrod, the elegant Aprons (carving) around the Lock and Barrel Tang and rather flimsy “Dutch” style Trigger Guard. The Butt of the Stock has a fair amount of drop for good aiming/shooting.
The following is an almost pure example of the P 1730 Musket with original Wood Ramrod. However, this Musket has a “Nose Band” that was added to the front of the stock during the working life of the musket, to keep the fore arm from splitting. Nose Bands were made from sheet brass or sometimes copper sheet and wrapped around the front end of the stock. When a Nose Band was added, the front of the stock was cut off square, but was not covered by metal, leaving exposed wood on the front of the fore arm. As made and issued, this Pattern Musket had a rounded end to the fore arm with no nose band or later nose cap.
Pattern 1730 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1730/40 Land Service Musket
Technically still a P 1730 musket with a Wooden Ramrod, but with at least two of the three Upgrade Modifications that would become standard on the next Pattern 1742 Musket. The upgrades were: 1. The New “Double Bridle” Lock with visible new Bridle on the Pan on all Muskets made from this point forward. (And at least one of the next two Upgrades) 2. A more robust trigger guard that would remain the same for most of the rest of the 18th century 3. Plainer “Aprons” or carving around the Lock Plate and Barrel Tang.
Key features to identify this pattern are the .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, and especially the new Double Bridle Lock. The Aprons (carving) around the Lock and Barrel Tang, as well as Trigger Guard may be early or “upgraded” styles. The drop of the Butt stock is retained.
The following example has the then new Double Bridle lock and upgraded robust new Trigger Guard, while it retains the early Aprons (Carving). However, this Musket also has a “Nose Band” that was added later to the front of the stock during the working life of the musket, to keep the fore arm from splitting. The sling swivels are missing.
Pattern 1730/40 Land Service musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1742 Land Service Musket
Key features to identify this pattern are the .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, Double Bridle Lock and more robust trigger guard that would both be retained for the rest of the 18th century, Wooden Rammer and simpler/less expensive Aprons or carving around the lock and barrel tang. The drop of the Butt stock is retained.
Note: British examples made at the Tower of London and Dublin Castle, as well as a fairly large number of similar muskets British Ordnance had to order from the “Dutch” in the previous War of the Austrian Succession; were THE most common Pattern Muskets sent to and used in America during the FIW (1754 – 1763). This because the newer Pattern Muskets with Iron/Steel Rammers were retained for use at home in England or on the European Continent, where the enemy threat was deemed greater. Any British unit sent to America already armed with Iron/Steel Rammer Muskets were required to turn them in and were re-armed with Wooden Ramrod Muskets.
The following is a superb example with original Ramrod and having no later modifications done to it, as well as only missing the sling swivels. Please notice the plain, rounded front of the stock that was common since the P1730 musket.
Pattern 1742 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1748 Land Service Musket
Key features were the NEW Iron/Steel Rammer and smaller diameter Rammer pipes for the reduced diameter of the new Rammer, along with the first use of a “Nose Cap” that completely enclosed the front end of the stock fore arm. All other features remain the same as the P1742. However only about 6,000 muskets of this pattern were made before the close of the War of the Austrian Succession and none were sent to America before the AWI, if any made it here then. That’s why I suppose Colonial Williamsburg does not have pics of this Pattern Musket.
NOTE: With the introduction of the NEW Iron/Steel Rammer P1748 Muskets, some of the older Pattern Muskets were upgraded to this feature in America during the FIW with bushings in the larger “wood” ramrod pipes for the smaller diameter Iron/Steel Rammers and a retaining spring riveted inside the Rear Rammer Pipe. Late in the FIW, some earlier muskets were sent here so modified as replacement arms. However, this proved to be a very unsuccessful modification as there are many documented complaints the springs broke easily and the replacement Iron/Steel Rammers sometimes bent too easily.
Pattern 1756 Land Service Musket
Key features were the then NEW “Flat” or flatter bottom lock and a straighter stock with less drop at the butt than earlier models. Other features included; .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, Iron/Steel Rammer, Nose Cap on the forearm from that time forward. The stock was made straighter not because it was better for holding/aiming, rather it was done to save money as they got more stock blanks that way out of a plank of “Walnut Tree Wood.”
Though made during the FIW, this model was not sent to America until afterward. It was the most common musket of British forces occupying Boston and in the early part of the AWI. Earlier and continuing problems with hardening and annealing the Iron/Steel Rammers was finally corrected by the gunsmith William Grice of Birmingham either in the late 1750’s or early 1760’s.
The following is a nice example.
Pattern 1756 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1769 (Short) Land Service Musket
The most important NEW feature is the now standardized/shorter 42 inch length barrel in .76 caliber. Though Musket caliber “carbines” with this barrel length were known as early as about a quarter century before, this Pattern set the standard for later Land Service Muskets with the shorter barrel. Known as the “Short Land Pattern Musket” during its working life, this Pattern made earlier Muskets with 46 inch long barrels into “Long Land Pattern” Muskets.
These Muskets were issued to British Regulars sent to America to reinforce the British Occupation of Boston and later New York. Also sent as replacements when needed for P 1756 Muskets. Generally these were issued only to British Regular Regiments in the AWI.
The following example is missing the Sling Swivels and the Iron/Steel Rammer is either a replacement or has been shortened and is on the high side of acceptable caliber range.
Pattern 1769 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1777 (Short) Land Service Musket
New Features: What instantly designates this Pattern Musket from earlier patterns is the NEW and shorter Sear Spring inside the lock, so now a SECOND lock plate screw is seen behind the Cock on the outside of the Lock Plate. Also, this is the first general use of a “Cock Screw” aka Top Jaw Screw that is both slotted for a Turnscrew (Screwdriver) AND drilled with a hole so a pin could tighten or loosen the screw.
Key features, the short 42 inch long barrel in .76 caliber is retained as are most of the rest of the features of the P1769 Muskets.
This musket was sent to America in the later stages of the AWI, but was far less common then the P1756 and P 1769 Muskets.
Below is a nice example of this pattern.
Pattern 1777 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Gus
Folks, I gratefully acknowledge these pics came from the Colonial Williamsburg Web pages and are of original Muskets in their collections. When you left click on the photo’s they will come up so you can move the view of the muskets around close up.
Unfortunately it seems you will have to copy/paste the links onto your browser as they didn't transfer over in the text.
Pattern 1730 Land Service Musket
This pattern is the first Land Service Musket recognized in the period and today as a “Brown Bess.”
Key features to identify this pattern are the .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, Single Bridle Lock (A Bridle over the Tumbler inside the lock, but No Bridle on the Priming Pan), Wooden Ramrod, the elegant Aprons (carving) around the Lock and Barrel Tang and rather flimsy “Dutch” style Trigger Guard. The Butt of the Stock has a fair amount of drop for good aiming/shooting.
The following is an almost pure example of the P 1730 Musket with original Wood Ramrod. However, this Musket has a “Nose Band” that was added to the front of the stock during the working life of the musket, to keep the fore arm from splitting. Nose Bands were made from sheet brass or sometimes copper sheet and wrapped around the front end of the stock. When a Nose Band was added, the front of the stock was cut off square, but was not covered by metal, leaving exposed wood on the front of the fore arm. As made and issued, this Pattern Musket had a rounded end to the fore arm with no nose band or later nose cap.
Pattern 1730 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1730/40 Land Service Musket
Technically still a P 1730 musket with a Wooden Ramrod, but with at least two of the three Upgrade Modifications that would become standard on the next Pattern 1742 Musket. The upgrades were: 1. The New “Double Bridle” Lock with visible new Bridle on the Pan on all Muskets made from this point forward. (And at least one of the next two Upgrades) 2. A more robust trigger guard that would remain the same for most of the rest of the 18th century 3. Plainer “Aprons” or carving around the Lock Plate and Barrel Tang.
Key features to identify this pattern are the .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, and especially the new Double Bridle Lock. The Aprons (carving) around the Lock and Barrel Tang, as well as Trigger Guard may be early or “upgraded” styles. The drop of the Butt stock is retained.
The following example has the then new Double Bridle lock and upgraded robust new Trigger Guard, while it retains the early Aprons (Carving). However, this Musket also has a “Nose Band” that was added later to the front of the stock during the working life of the musket, to keep the fore arm from splitting. The sling swivels are missing.
Pattern 1730/40 Land Service musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1742 Land Service Musket
Key features to identify this pattern are the .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, Double Bridle Lock and more robust trigger guard that would both be retained for the rest of the 18th century, Wooden Rammer and simpler/less expensive Aprons or carving around the lock and barrel tang. The drop of the Butt stock is retained.
Note: British examples made at the Tower of London and Dublin Castle, as well as a fairly large number of similar muskets British Ordnance had to order from the “Dutch” in the previous War of the Austrian Succession; were THE most common Pattern Muskets sent to and used in America during the FIW (1754 – 1763). This because the newer Pattern Muskets with Iron/Steel Rammers were retained for use at home in England or on the European Continent, where the enemy threat was deemed greater. Any British unit sent to America already armed with Iron/Steel Rammer Muskets were required to turn them in and were re-armed with Wooden Ramrod Muskets.
The following is a superb example with original Ramrod and having no later modifications done to it, as well as only missing the sling swivels. Please notice the plain, rounded front of the stock that was common since the P1730 musket.
Pattern 1742 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1748 Land Service Musket
Key features were the NEW Iron/Steel Rammer and smaller diameter Rammer pipes for the reduced diameter of the new Rammer, along with the first use of a “Nose Cap” that completely enclosed the front end of the stock fore arm. All other features remain the same as the P1742. However only about 6,000 muskets of this pattern were made before the close of the War of the Austrian Succession and none were sent to America before the AWI, if any made it here then. That’s why I suppose Colonial Williamsburg does not have pics of this Pattern Musket.
NOTE: With the introduction of the NEW Iron/Steel Rammer P1748 Muskets, some of the older Pattern Muskets were upgraded to this feature in America during the FIW with bushings in the larger “wood” ramrod pipes for the smaller diameter Iron/Steel Rammers and a retaining spring riveted inside the Rear Rammer Pipe. Late in the FIW, some earlier muskets were sent here so modified as replacement arms. However, this proved to be a very unsuccessful modification as there are many documented complaints the springs broke easily and the replacement Iron/Steel Rammers sometimes bent too easily.
Pattern 1756 Land Service Musket
Key features were the then NEW “Flat” or flatter bottom lock and a straighter stock with less drop at the butt than earlier models. Other features included; .76 cal., 46 inch long barrel, Iron/Steel Rammer, Nose Cap on the forearm from that time forward. The stock was made straighter not because it was better for holding/aiming, rather it was done to save money as they got more stock blanks that way out of a plank of “Walnut Tree Wood.”
Though made during the FIW, this model was not sent to America until afterward. It was the most common musket of British forces occupying Boston and in the early part of the AWI. Earlier and continuing problems with hardening and annealing the Iron/Steel Rammers was finally corrected by the gunsmith William Grice of Birmingham either in the late 1750’s or early 1760’s.
The following is a nice example.
Pattern 1756 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1769 (Short) Land Service Musket
The most important NEW feature is the now standardized/shorter 42 inch length barrel in .76 caliber. Though Musket caliber “carbines” with this barrel length were known as early as about a quarter century before, this Pattern set the standard for later Land Service Muskets with the shorter barrel. Known as the “Short Land Pattern Musket” during its working life, this Pattern made earlier Muskets with 46 inch long barrels into “Long Land Pattern” Muskets.
These Muskets were issued to British Regulars sent to America to reinforce the British Occupation of Boston and later New York. Also sent as replacements when needed for P 1756 Muskets. Generally these were issued only to British Regular Regiments in the AWI.
The following example is missing the Sling Swivels and the Iron/Steel Rammer is either a replacement or has been shortened and is on the high side of acceptable caliber range.
Pattern 1769 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Pattern 1777 (Short) Land Service Musket
New Features: What instantly designates this Pattern Musket from earlier patterns is the NEW and shorter Sear Spring inside the lock, so now a SECOND lock plate screw is seen behind the Cock on the outside of the Lock Plate. Also, this is the first general use of a “Cock Screw” aka Top Jaw Screw that is both slotted for a Turnscrew (Screwdriver) AND drilled with a hole so a pin could tighten or loosen the screw.
Key features, the short 42 inch long barrel in .76 caliber is retained as are most of the rest of the features of the P1769 Muskets.
This musket was sent to America in the later stages of the AWI, but was far less common then the P1756 and P 1769 Muskets.
Below is a nice example of this pattern.
Pattern 1777 Land Service Musket – Works – The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (history.org)
Gus