SCORED!

[Loyalist Dave]

I won an auction for a new, Pedersoli, Brown Bess Barrel. No idea if it was part of a kit, or if the gunshop out in Missouri simply had a replacement barrel in stock. It's never been used as the barrel tennons are not drilled to accept pins. It wasn't exactly cheap, but when I priced a Colerain barrel from Track, and the fact that the American made barrel one needs to have breeched, plus buy the tennons and the bayonet lug and have all of them installed (or solder them yourself), it made the Pedersoli barrel reasonably priced...and VTI Gunparts lists the barrels as unavailable.

I have scrounged a Pedersoli Bess Lock, and a used Jap Bess Barrel over the years, plus most of the parts and a Dunlap Woodcraft aftermarket Bess stock, as I'm working very slowly on a Frankenbess project. So all that's left when it comes to hardware is a LLP butt plate, trigger guard, and I will need to cast a LLP style side plate. As I said it's a Frankenbess project...

LD

 

[Treestalker]

Onward! Through the fog!

 

[just4fun63]

Great score.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Might well be a Frankenbess, but it will probably be acceptable at most F&I and AWI events.

 

[FlinterNick]

I won an auction for a new, Pedersoli, Brown Bess Barrel. No idea if it was part of a kit, or if the gunshop out in Missouri simply had a replacement barrel in stock. It's never been used as the barrel tennons are not drilled to accept pins. It wasn't exactly cheap, but when I priced a Colerain barrel from Track, and the fact that the American made barrel one needs to have breeched, plus buy the tennons and the bayonet lug and have all of them installed (or solder them yourself), it made the Pedersoli barrel reasonably priced...and VTI Gunparts lists the barrels as unavailable.

I have scrounged a Pedersoli Bess Lock, and a used Jap Bess Barrel over the years, plus most of the parts and a Dunlap Woodcraft aftermarket Bess stock, as I'm working very slowly on a Frankenbess project. So all that's left when it comes to hardware is a LLP butt plate, trigger guard, and I will need to cast a LLP style side plate. As I said it's a Frankenbess project...

LD

I saw that barrel on gun broker, it was listed for a few months. I'm still holding out for a coach harness Brown Bess. I've bid on 2 in the last 3 years and came up short

Thats a great price ! those replacement barrels go for $600 !

 

[Rat]

And I'm sure you will affectionately call her "Frankie" in the future. That is cool that you are putting a Bess together. I sure love mine. Yes...good score.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yeah after decades of usually being the "almost got the great deal" guy..., I got a couple of deals this year. Probably ran out my luck on such things until 2024 at least, but not complaining...,

LD

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I've wanted a PederBess for years but heard they're poor in historical authenticity..??

 

[tenngun]

I've wanted a PederBess for years but heard they're poor in historical authenticity..??

Not perfect, but you do have to look real close to see the flaws. What are you willing to accept and what’s beyond the pale? For 99% of the owners pedi is close enough.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I've wanted a PederBess for years but heard they're poor in historical authenticity.

No, they have a minor flaw in the marking on the lock, and they are missing the added ramrod thimble that is found on most SLP Bess... so they are not a bad copy of a Short Land Pattern Bess, but may be a rarer version than was commonly seen.

Their biggest problem is that the SLP bess was really in the minority when it comes to Bess seen in North America during the AWI, as the proper Bess for most British units would've been the LLP 1756 version..., or older versions with upgrades such as wooden rammers updated to metal, and a nose cap under the barrel which was shortened to 42". One would not have been seen with Continental Army units, and totally wrong for Colonial Militia units. DEFINITELY NOT for F&I or earlier, for any unit as it had not been designed yet. The expense of the modern repro plus a bayonet is pretty high too....

The difference between what Pedersoli should be making and what they actually make, would be akin to one going to an ACW reenactment of Gettysburg, and all of the Union soldiers were armed with Henry lever-actions. Which would be worse if those same reenactors then went to a Mexican-American War reenactment and used them.

LD

 

[FlinterNick]

No, they have a minor flaw in the marking on the lock, and they are missing the added ramrod thimble that is found on most SLP Bess... so they are not a bad copy of a Short Land Pattern Bess, but may be a rarer version than was commonly seen.

Their biggest problem is that the SLP bess was really in the minority when it comes to Bess seen in North America during the AWI, as the proper Bess for most British units would've been the LLP 1756 version..., or older versions with upgrades such as wooden rammers updated to metal, and a nose cap under the barrel which was shortened to 42". One would not have been seen with Continental Army units, and totally wrong for Colonial Militia units. DEFINITELY NOT for F&I or earlier, for any unit as it had not been designed yet. The expense of the modern repro plus a bayonet is pretty high too....

The difference between what Pedersoli should be making and what they actually make, would be akin to one going to an ACW reenactment of Gettysburg, and all of the Union soldiers were armed with Henry lever-actions. Which would be worse if those same reenactors then went to a Mexican-American War reenactment and used them.

LD

you mean the flaired Pratt’s thimble ?

The p1769 shortland saw the most service in the revolution; most were in British hands in 1776.

the late second models saw service in the southern theater of the AWI.

the pedersoli barrel is tapered somewhat smaller than the originals; from breech to bore they’re 1.450 to .890; bored to .77/.78 Colerain makes the most precise copy.

I just passed up on a coach harness long land p1756.... just I’m too poor shape to even consider and the sling was bolted between the second and third thimbles

 

[jbwilliams3]

You could also make an awesome commercial musket, militia musket, committee of safety musket, etc. with those parts. Doesn’t have to represent a SLP, per se.

 

[smoothshooter]

I won an auction for a new, Pedersoli, Brown Bess Barrel. No idea if it was part of a kit, or if the gunshop out in Missouri simply had a replacement barrel in stock. It's never been used as the barrel tennons are not drilled to accept pins. It wasn't exactly cheap, but when I priced a Colerain barrel from Track, and the fact that the American made barrel one needs to have breeched, plus buy the tennons and the bayonet lug and have all of them installed (or solder them yourself), it made the Pedersoli barrel reasonably priced...and VTI Gunparts lists the barrels as unavailable.

I have scrounged a Pedersoli Bess Lock, and a used Jap Bess Barrel over the years, plus most of the parts and a Dunlap Woodcraft aftermarket Bess stock, as I'm working very slowly on a Frankenbess project. So all that's left when it comes to hardware is a LLP butt plate, trigger guard, and I will need to cast a LLP style side plate. As I said it's a Frankenbess project...

LD

I would think that there would have been hundreds of Frankenbesses in use in the Colonies and all around North America back in the day.

 

[FlinterNick]

I would think that there would have been hundreds of Frankenbesses in use in the Colonies and all around North America back in the day.

Most American made muskets before and during the AWI were made from parts of various other guns.

After the French and Indian War, there were surpluses of parts from captured French muskets; 1717, 1728 and other types of fusils and the British 1730 and 1740 long lands.

In the Northern colonies; French muskets or muskets with French parts were very common. in the Southern Colonies muskets with British parts and Dutch parts and some captured 1752 Spanish muskets were common.

Many German settlers also brought over muskets from German States and Prussia; these guns don't follow any specific pattern but most collectors follow the Potsdam versions, while others resemble charlevilles.