OK, let's put it to a vote.

[TN.Frank]

Let's put it to a vote as to which musket I should get. There are three choices that I've come down to.
Here they are:
1) LA&R Sea Service Musket, 38" bbl.,76 cal. $558 bucks.

2)MVTCo "Ranger Bess",34" bbl./75 cal. $595 bucks

3)LA&R "Long land pattern musketoon", 36" bbl.,76cal, $630 bucks.
Bottom gun in pic.

The MVTCo gun comes with accessories(bayonet,sling, ect.) the other two don't. The Sea Service musket is iron mounted(something I like) the other two are brass(something I can live with but don't really like.)
I'm not into reinacting so the guns don't have to be PC but it's still a plus as I really love history and would like to be PC for that fact and noting else. It'll be used for hunting and plinkin' more then anything else and as prop when I'm watchin' Period movies like "Last of the Mohicans" and "The Patriot"(ok, tell me ya'll have never watched a movie with a gun, come on, ya'll know you have,LOL)
This is the three that I've narrowed it down to, in 6 or 7 weeks I'll have the money saved up and be ready to order one of em', now, let's put our collective heads together and figure out which one and for what reason. :hmm:

 

[Swampman]

If these are the only 2 we can chose from, I'd get the one on top. It's much better looking.

 

[TN.Frank]

There are three of em', or do you mean the bottom picture of the 1728 "Transitional" Bess and the Musketoon?,LOL

 

[Swampman]

The picture on the bottom isn't showing for me.

 

[Jon in MI]

I like the Sea Service on top, but that's me. :hmm:

Jon

 

I think that third one is really kewl. I think that one would get my vote. :thumbsup:
I like the looks of the 1st Model Besses even if they look cut back and it's a BIG bore for throwing a lot a shot out there if ya need to.

 

[Russianblood]

I vote for #3. Besides, #2 isn't in full production yet and #1 is too late period for me.

 

[TN.Frank]

The picture on the bottom isn't showing for me.

Give this link a try, maybe you'll see the pic there.[url] http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/longlandmusketoon.htm[/url]

 

[TN.Frank]

#1 is too late period for me.

"These early muskets were issued to the British Navy, as well as some marine units in 1715-40's,
but were carried on board His Majestys' ships for many years afterward."
So you need something earlier then 1715??
So far it looks like #1 and #3 are at the top of the list. The most expensive of the lot and the cheapest. I really do like the iron hardware on the Sea Service, I think it'd look nice when it's aged up a bit. But #3 really looks good to. 1 or 3, 1 or 3. :hmm:

 

[Cherokee]

#3

 

[David Teague]

#1 cause it's cool

#3 cause it's closer to PC for use on land

 

[paulvallandigham]

#3 doesn't come through on either Site, Mr. Frank. I think you buy what you want, and stop worrying about historical correctness. The gun is being made in the 21st century, and not the 18th! It shows in the metals used, and even how the stock is carved, and inletted. There are far too many well intentioned gun makers out there trying to make exact replicas of 18th century guns, whose guns fall into the hands of con artists to sell to the unsuspecting and unknowledgeable public, with more money than brains. The use of period proof marks, etc. adds to the fraud that can be committed by subseqent handlers. I witnessed this first hand at an estate sale where the auctioneer tried to tell the audience that a very common muzzle loading rifle was an " Antique ". I think you will be happy with any of the 3 choices.

 

[The Baron]

I like the look and handi-ness of #2. I know squat about PC details, but that'd be my choice. :v

 

[Roy]

all above :grin:

I like that big ole Sea service lock (see pic under my name), so 1 I guess, but (ha ha theres always a "but") I will agree with Mark in that the first model Bess is too cool. :thumbsup: (I know its not one of the choices :winking .

Choose what you want :thumbsup: It'll be your's not our gun, so pick the one that you want the most besides theres always next year :haha: .

 

[Okwaho]

#1 is too late period for me.

"These early muskets were issued to the British Navy, as well as some marine units in 1715-40's,
but were carried on board His Majestys' ships for many years afterward."
So you need something earlier then 1715??
So far it looks like #1 and #3 are at the top of the list. The most expensive of the lot and the cheapest. I really do like the iron hardware on the Sea Service, I think it'd look nice when it's aged up a bit. But #3 really looks good to. 1 or 3, 1 or 3. :hmm:

The problems are: Nos.2 and 3 are in my opinion fantasy guns. I can find no evidence of either gun except for a brass barreled musketoon from Ca.1718. The term "musketoon" seems to have been applied to short heavy bored
guns and by 1770 to blunderbusses.The so called "cut down ranger guns are a myth that apparently just won't go away.
No.1 is apparently based on the short pattern 1738 Sea Service musket.The terms bright and black apply to the barrels which could be either left bright or blackened.The problems with this gun are {1}the furniture should be brass;by this time iron had long since ceased to be used on English military guns especially on a gun being used on shipboard and exposed to salt water;{2} It should have a sideplate,I couldn't find any examples without one especially this late;{3}I have no idea where they came up with this weird "roman nose" butt architecture on an English musket.The Sea Service muskets I saw had the regular land pattern configuration.
others may have different views
Tom Patton

 

[Mike Brooks]

Tom, look up in the air....did you notice the hail of arrows headed your way? :rotf:
If historical accuracy isn't an issue, any one of these guns would be as good as any of the other 2. :v

 

[Okwaho]

Mike,I carry two specialized types of insurance. One protects a Heretic like me from lightning bolts and other from the arrows of outraged non believers. :bow:
Tom Patton

 

:rotf: :rotf: You have a good sense of humor besides good insurance :rotf:

 

[TN.Frank]

I'm thinkin' it's going to be the Sea Service Musket, not only does it have the iron hardware that I like it's forestock extends out to the end of the barrel giving the ramrod more support in case you bump it on something. That way it'll not snap off, plus it's the cheapest one of the bunch.

 

[Okwaho]

"...In any case,when when he found the Truth, he sought no further; but from that day forth,with his soldering-iron in one hand and his bludgeon in the other he tinkered its leaks and reasoned with objectors."
Mark Twain,"What Is Man?"
Tom Patton :hmm: