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3rd Model Brown Bess Flintlock Musket for Sale

American Revolution  -  Napoleonic Wars   -   War of 1812   -   Alamo   -  U.S. Marines

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3rd Model (India Pattern) Brown Bess Musket. This lighter and shorter (39-inch barrel) was first developed for the use of the East India Company in 1771.  Historians suggest it saw limited use at the end of the American Revolution (original example in the Smithsonian).  This musket became the preferred musket of manufacture by the Board of Ordnance for the British Army in 1797. Throughout the Napoleonic Wars nearly 3 million of these muskets were manufactured and distributed to Britain's infantry regiments.  Allies against Napoleon like Prussia, Spain and Portugal also received shipments of this musket.

The only change in their manufacture during this period was the switch from a swan-necked cock to a reinforced style in 1809. This 3rd Model Brown Bess offered here was the more common swan-necked style. Aside from being a pound lighter and 3 inch shorter barrel, the main differences from the previous "Short Land" pattern and the India pattern were ones of style (removal of the thumb plate and only three pipes for the ramrod instead of four). Because of the numbers manufactured, this pattern saw use as late as 1850 in the British army and militia. 

Surplus brown bess muskets were also sold to the Mexican Army and were used by General Santa Anna's Army at the memorable Battle of the Alamo in 1836. At the surrender of Santa Anna later that year, large quantities of this musket feel into Texan hands.   Subsequently, Texan militia put them to good use in the 1840s in the Mexican-American War.

Shores of Tripoli? The hardiness of this Brown Bess also made it popular with the U.S. Marines prior to and during the War of 1812. It's brass hardware was much more suitable for the service on the salty ocean waters  than the standard U.S. Springfield Musket.

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

Using the 3rd Model Brown Bess, British infantry jostle with French Chasseurs, c.1815

This replica is made by the same company that made the India Pattern Brown Bess Muskets for the TV series Sharpe's Rifles. They are also the musket of most British Napoleonic units in Great Britain. The locks have strong main strings and case-hardened hammers (frizzen covers) resulting in good sparks. The seamless tempered barrels are made of gun steel (BS970 no. 080M40) and the breeches are tight.

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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3rd Model Brown Bess:   $599   ^$749

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