Original British Tower Marked 3rd Model Brown Bess Converted to Percussion Short Musket with Baker Bayonet Bar Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice percussion converted example of a British Third Model Brown Bess, which looks to have had a very interesting history! Also known as the “India Pattern”, this was the standard Musket of the line during 1815, the time of the Battle of Waterloo. The style of the stock and fittings would indicate production in the early 19th century, and it was then shortened by 9 inches to have a 30 inch .75″ smoothbore iron barrel. It was also fitted at some point with a “Baker style” bayonet bar on the right side, a common attachment style used with the Baker, Brunswick, and other period guns. The gun is now very much a short musket, very possibly converted in one of the German States, perhaps for the German Legion, where it would have been used by Sappers & Miners or Artillery units.

The lock plate is still very faintly marked with Crown over G.R. mid lock for King George III, with TOWER across the tail. There are also still faint proof markings on the left side of the barrel. These include CROWN / GR, the for King George, and the “Crown over Crossed Scepters” of Thomas Ketland of St Catherine St, Weaman Row Birmingham, who worked 1766 to 1810. This was later adopted as the mark of the Birmingham Proofhouse.

The original original cock has been replaced with a percussion hammer, and a very nice cap bolster added on the right hand side. It has all regulation brass furniture, together with correct issue iron ramrod. Shows use but remains in amazingly tight and clean condition. Action is strong and holds at half cock, firing correctly at full cock, though the half cock position is very close to the nipple cone.

The metalwork looks to have had an arsenal brown applied at some point, which was popular in Europe for a time. The metalwork definitely does show cleaning, which has made the markings faint, and there was some past pitting on the hammer and barrel along the woodline. The stock is in lovely condition, with a great dark brown color. It shows wear, but no major damage. We did note that the barrel tang has a wood repair behind it, so the barrel or stock may have been swapped out during conversion.

A very nice percussion converted Third model Brown Bess of a style that we have not seen before! Ready to research and display!

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1805-1815
Caliber: .75″ Musket
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 30 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 46 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.e