Description
A very fine and in near mint condition, private purchase, second model Shortland, Brownbess musket, circa 1760/70. The musket of regulation form, 58 inches overall with a 42 inch, .75 bore barrel ( good set of proofs ) with bayonet mount. The full walnut regulation stock made from superb figured English walnut and brass mounts. The lock, cutting edge for the period because it incorporates a roller frizzen, which had just started to be used and enabled slightly quicker ignition of the powder. The barrel is also retained by wedges instead of pins which enables to barrel to be cleaned far better. The Shortland Bess ( 2nd model ) was replaced by the India pattern Bess ( 3rd pattern ) in 1790 as the main longarm of the British army and was only completely replaced in the 1830/40 with the first percussion muskets. The Shortland was the main longarm issued to British troops during the American revolutionary war only starting to be replaced by the more mass produced India pattern in its later years as Britain ramped up production for the Napoleonic wars. This musket could easily have been carried by a serving British officer or explorer of the period.
