Brown Bess identification please: what do I have?

[Norsk]

Recently I was lucky enough to buy this Brown Bess,alas I know nothing about her.

Caliber .75
Length 55 1/8"
Barrel length 37"

It would be quite nice to know roughly when she was made, I have fired her a few times on Sunday and I am still grinning.

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
It is the last of the Brown Besses. It is a pattern 1809, which could be produced between 1809 and 1815 although a few were made at later dates. It was British government issue and even has store keeper and barrel proof marks visible. The other numbers and marks like MIL605, and 1846 etc, I don't recognize. This is the most common version of the Bess available.

dave

 

[TreeMan]

Very nice find!!

 

[Norsk]

David Pearson

I thank you very much for your informative reply.

Kind regards

Mike

 

[Grayrock Volunteer]

The unit/rack/serial numbers are likely Swedish. Sweden received a significant number of India Pattern guns from England during the Napoleonic Wars. Swedish percussion altered examples utilize a pretty distinct conversion method and are easily identifiable. They are almost always marked similarly to yours.

 

[Norsk]

Very interesting thank you GV.

Is this example an India pattern Brown Bess?

 

[Rudyard]

Sorry to disagree Dave but at 37" barrel it is a Land Pattern, Sea Service musket . Had it been 16 bore it would have been a Seargents Carbine . Why do I say this ?. Well numbers of surplus muskets of this India pattern where purchased by the New Zealand Company for trade barter & defence and in Nelson Colony at least they where of 39" Or 37" brl . and some survive . The Seargents ' Carbine' as its called it being 'carbine bore' was a slightly lighter version of the regular India Pat Bess . I restored one that was given me after serving as a lamp standard . Nice find anyway your musket looks dead right .
.Dear Norsk Yes it is of the' Windus Pattern' E I Coy musket adopted by Ordnance during the Napolionic wars being simpler & in some cases available immediately even outward bound East Indiaman ships where persuaded to sell all their India bound muskets to the Crown surcharged & issued . & all production by the trade was diverted to Ordnance needs ..Butt plate marks don't look original or at least not Govt practice so suggests Norway use
Regards Rudyard

 

[Norsk]

@Rudyard

Quite fascinating! Thank you for taking the time to write your informative reply,would any Bayonet for a Brown Bess be correct? I would like to display it with Bayonet attached.

 

[Rudyard]

Dear Norsk. Bayonets may or may not fit. The standards are rather variable but if you try a few one might fit. I think originaly each musket came as a' Stand of arms' IE a musket a Cartridge box or 'Pouch' & the B' net that fitted the musket . There where millions made of each so getting one is possible enough just pot luck once they are separated . Look on British Militaria forums 'Blacksmith' is into B nets & lives in Norway..say Rudyard suggested it .
Regards Rudyard