What was the level of finish of the Brown Bess muskets? I read threads here where people compare the quality of the finish of the stock etc. of reproduction muskets, but would the finish of a mass produced original Bess be somewhat crude like the mass produced firearms of WWII?
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How well where the original Brown Bess finished?
- Thread starter M38
- Start date
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The metal was pretty much polished and left in the white. Naval arms were laquered black. The wood was oil finished but not highly scraped or burnished. Metal furniture and the lock were better than a "GI" level of preperation and fitting. The entry pipe, trigger guard and butt-plate all have extra finials that go beyond servicability and into ornamentation just for the sake of style & "art". Locks were engraved with the date & maker's name (or arsenal) and a crown & king's (or queen's) initials cypher was engraved, as opposed to both being stamped.
rschissler
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M38, you bring up a good point. I'd want a Bess that had some minor imperfections here and there. It seems to me that it would be more historically accurate than something that has a "computerized laser-cut like" flawless finish.
Rat
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Now don't jump to conclusions...
Many firearms of old, even massed produced were finished with fine "old world" craftsmanship...to standards that don't exist today, except in the custom-gun realm...even up to WWII.
Belgium Mausers are the equal of guns costing thousands of dollars today, as far as fit, finish, bluing, etc.
Many German Mausers were of equal quality.
Have you ever taken a look at a Swede Mauser in original like new condition? I have one...it would blow your mind. The bluing is superior to anything you've seen on a S&W revolver.
I also know that perfectly preserved, unissued rifle muskets, made during the civil war, such as the 1861 are absolute works of art...quality far beyond any replica of the same.
Many rifles produced during, or at the end of the "world wars" may have been crude, but the same rifes, produced in peace time were often highly finished.
I have even seen SMLE's that could be called "flawless", and works of art produced before WWI.
Most common military rifles could not be produced today, without costing thousands of dollars, if they were built to the same quality. I think that the further back you go, the more true that is.
I'm thinking that many original Brown Besses might have put a modern, laser-cut, computer finished replica to shame. I'm thinking that most were fine examples of old world craftsmanship, and very much works of art, perfectly fitted and finished.
I think dents and dings in a firearm only have meaning if you know how they got there...most imperfections would not have made it out the factory door. Otherwise, it's like having a replica of a 1930 Chrysler Imperial, but with dents and dings in the sheet metal, and minor imperfections, that were not there when the car was new!!!
Or maybe I'm crazy!
:youcrazy:
Rat
Many firearms of old, even massed produced were finished with fine "old world" craftsmanship...to standards that don't exist today, except in the custom-gun realm...even up to WWII.
Belgium Mausers are the equal of guns costing thousands of dollars today, as far as fit, finish, bluing, etc.
Many German Mausers were of equal quality.
Have you ever taken a look at a Swede Mauser in original like new condition? I have one...it would blow your mind. The bluing is superior to anything you've seen on a S&W revolver.
I also know that perfectly preserved, unissued rifle muskets, made during the civil war, such as the 1861 are absolute works of art...quality far beyond any replica of the same.
Many rifles produced during, or at the end of the "world wars" may have been crude, but the same rifes, produced in peace time were often highly finished.
I have even seen SMLE's that could be called "flawless", and works of art produced before WWI.
Most common military rifles could not be produced today, without costing thousands of dollars, if they were built to the same quality. I think that the further back you go, the more true that is.
I'm thinking that many original Brown Besses might have put a modern, laser-cut, computer finished replica to shame. I'm thinking that most were fine examples of old world craftsmanship, and very much works of art, perfectly fitted and finished.
I think dents and dings in a firearm only have meaning if you know how they got there...most imperfections would not have made it out the factory door. Otherwise, it's like having a replica of a 1930 Chrysler Imperial, but with dents and dings in the sheet metal, and minor imperfections, that were not there when the car was new!!!
Or maybe I'm crazy!
:youcrazy:
Rat
It is my understanding that fit & finish was very good indeed, until the later India pattern Besses, (this was the common Bess the Mexicans used against the Texans during their war for independence) on those, quality dropped off dramatically.
I don't know about Besses, or mil. muskets. However, I have the booklet by the late Kit Ravenshire, from olde England, who fondled many oldies in his day, and reproduced them. He says, on everyday muskets, there were still file marks left on the metal and scrape marks left on the wood. Completed in a rather rough state, he sez. Except for the "fine " grade guns for the wealthy, which had a higher degree of finish. ::
Kit Ravehshear (pictured) didn't leave any file marks on mine. ::
