English Long Land Service Musket

English Long Land Service Musket

This English Long Land Service, first model “Brown Bess,” Musket was the standard shoulder weapon of the British foot soldier during the 18th century. Although the “Brown Bess” musket would undergo three model variations during the century, its styling and visual appearance changed little.
The English walnut stock supports an iron barrel which is held to the stock by round iron pins under the barrel. The barrel is stamped on top “ROYAL WELSH,” representing the famed English 23rd Regiment of Foot, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. This musket incorporates the typical brass furniture and components of the early land pattern muskets. This brass furniture includes the early trigger-guard design, an elongated butt plate, rounded side plate, and four brass rammer thimbles. The butt plate is marked, 'Lt. Colo Waite'. Vertically within a shield behind the cock it is stamped “TOWER 1728”. The lock plate is also stamped with an English crown and “GR” forward of the cock. The brass wrist escutcheon plate is stamped “B/N9”.

Caliber: .77
Weight: 9.4 lbs
Length: 62 1/8"
Barrel: 46"

Brown, M.L. Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on History and Technology 1492-1792. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980.

c. 1728

George C. Neumann Collection, Valley Forge National Historical Park

VAFO 105

Photograph