Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

Loaned Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History. Smithsonian accession # A.1980.0399.0854

The Short Land Pattern Brown Bess was the standard British Army musket of the Revolutionary War period. The barrel length of Short Pattern Musket had been reduced to 42 inches, hence its designation, and was standardized for all British services by a Royal Warrant dated June 11, 1768. Its predecessor, the Long Land Pattern Brown Bess, featured a 46-inch barrel. This musket is a limited edition reproduction of an original British military long arm, which was produced using original 18th century British tools and patterns. The coat of arms of the Royal Welch Fusiliers appears on the wrist plate.