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British (First Model) Long Land Pattern Brown Bess Flintlock Musket For Sale

Culloden  -  French and Indian Wars  -  American Revolution

 $599    ^$749   Other Images: Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7

Historical Background

Also referred to as the 1st Model, this musket was 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 a number of versions to this 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. This is the 1742 version with Seven Years War war-time steel rammer conversion.

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 armouries 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 1756 model is simply not suitable for French and Indian War reenactment.

By the opening of the American Revolution there would have been a mixture of Long Land and Short Land Muskets in use by British Forces. One historian suggested the Loyalist or Provincial Corps would have received the 1742 Long Land Muskets because that was what was in stores after the French and Indian War.

Most certainly the Long Land pattern would have found its way into the Continental Army as muskets were captured from the British and taken from colonial armouries, particularly at the beginning of the war before arms from France started to flow.

The musket offered here comes with a steel ramrod. When this musket was first manufactured numerous regiments particularly in Ireland were supplied with steel ramrods. One British Officer, General Hawley, objected to the steel rammers and subsequent rammers were made of wood. Surprisingly at the same time the French Army had decided to switch to the steel ramrod! The British eventually switched back to the steel ramrod in the 1750s when the 1756 version was introduced. As well during the Seven Years War (French and Indian War) numerous regiments carrying wooden rammers were ordered to switch to steel ones.

The following are three images of an original Long Land Musket in the Canadian War Museum collection dated 1743, with the steel rammer: Image 1 Image 2 Image 3. This specimen has been selected as the representative piece for 1st Model in the new museum's Colonial display,

Grenadiers of the 34th, 35th and 36th Regiments of Foot carrying this musket c.1755.  They appear to not have nose caps.

Nose Cap or No Cap?

Many collectors and historians debate whether or not the Long Land had a nose cap in the French and Indian War. The reproduction we have offer here is based on an original in the Canadian War Museum which shows no sign of a nose cap but has a steel rammer. It was not until the 1756 model Brown Bess was approved did the Long Land officially receive a nose cap. Unfortunately this pattern never saw service in North America in the Seven Years War. So the question becomes were nose caps added to the 1742 pattern long lands used in the French and Indian War?

There are four sources of evidence to study: documents, pictorial, archaeological and original examples. Documents are sketchy. One document notes a regiment switching steel rammers but the rammers slide out easily because the brass pipes for the old wooden rammers were too large. This implies the regiment did not possess the ability to cast brass pipe replacements when they made the switch. If they could not do this then one would suppose they lacked ability to cast brass nose caps as well, or that the Commanding officer was unwilling or unable to approve the extra expense.

Nose caps on original long land muskets in private and public collections are quite common. However, the Long Land remained in use in some regiments up into the 1790s and many regiments in the intervening years of peace added nose caps to match uniformity. In fact, a number of these Long Land were also cut down to 42 inch barrels to match Short Land pattern musket lengths being introduced in regiments. In addition the size and shape of nose vary greatly, with some having a wrap of brass near the nose instead of a nose cap. Therefore the originals offer more confusion then answers to the question.

Let us look at archaeological finds. To our knowledge, no archaeological specimens have been uncovered that have nose caps from French and Indian War digs. For example, the Long Lands captured from Shirley's Regiment in 1755 and introduced into the French Navy, found off a ship wreck, did not have nose caps. In addition, the only surviving musket marked specifically to a regiment (47 Regt Ft) serving in the North America during the French and Indian War again is without a nose cap. (in the Fort Ticonderoga Museum).

All this said, it is obviously absurd to state universally there were or were not nose caps on 1742 Long Land Muskets in the French and Indian War. To state this would show a complete ignorance of the 18th century cottage industry and the decentralized nature of the British Army of the time. All we can state here is that the reproduction offered is based on the available documentation and feel is best suited for representing the typical British Brown Bess in the French and Indian war, or muskets coming out of stores for American forces during the American Revolution.   If you wish to purchase this musket with the nose cap click here.

Further reading on the Brown Bess musket see:

•  Why was a British Musket called a "Brown Bess"?

• From Bright Steel to Brown:The Colour of British Musket Barrels, 1755-1865

 

 

Specifications

The reproduction we offer here has a 46 inch .75 calibre barrel is made of tempered seamless gun steel (type:BS970 no.080M40) with a tight breech plug. The lock is made with strong durable springs and has a case-hardened frizzen (hammer) that throws good sparks. The musket's total length is 63 inches and weighs 11 pounds. We use a industrial case-hardening factory process that makes sparking both more reliable and longer lasting. Presently no other musket provider uses this technique.

As with all our other flintlocks, the vent is not drilled (read details below) so we can ship easily to your door throughout North America and to Europe and the UK. Aside from that they are exactly like the originals. A fine addition to any collection.

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1742 Long Land Brown Bess Musket: $599    ^$749  (MTS-008A)

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