Original British East India Company Brown Bess Flintlock Musket by Wilson – dated 1779 and 1802 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. “Brown Bess” is the most common nickname for the British Army’s muzzle-loading smoothbore Land Pattern Musket and its many derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred years with many incremental changes in its design. These versions include the Long Land Pattern, the Short Land Pattern, the India Pattern, the New Land Pattern Musket and the Sea Service Musket.

The Long Land Pattern musket and its derivatives, all .75 caliber flintlock muskets, were the standard long guns of the British Empire’s land forces from 1722 until 1838, when they were superseded by a percussion cap smoothbore musket. They all shot a .69 inch round ball in a paper cartridge, undersized to prevent the ball getting stock on powder fouling.

This fine example is completely original, with early Comb-topped Walnut Butt Stock, often called the “Bannister Rail” stock. It features all brass mounts and a 39″ smoothbore barrel showing British proof marks on the breech end. Next to these is the E.I.C. HEART LOGO and WILSON – 1779, indicating the original year it was made. The lock also marked WILSON and bears the the E.I.C. HEART LOGO over 1802, probably having been replaced in that year during arsenal service.

This musket is configured exactly the same as the British Third Pattern Brown Bess in construction. The India Pattern of 1796 was a copy of the E.I.C. WINDUS pattern of 1771, which this musket is a fine example of.

From a long time Collection in England, ready to display

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1779 with lock replaced 1802
Caliber: .75 smoothbore
Ammunition Type: .69cal ball with paper cartridge
Overall Length: 55 inches
Action: Flint-lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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