Original American Revolutionary War British Long Land Pattern Brown Bess Flintlock Musket Marked to 10th Reg't of Foot and Philadelphia - Restocked in United States

Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a very interesting British Long Land Pattern Brown Bess Musket, the first of many revisions of the Flintlock musket that would serve the British Empire for over 100 years! First fielded in 1722, it would be the standard musket of the line during many 18th century conflicts, before finally being replaced by the P-1740 "Short Land Pattern" in the infantry beginning in 1768. It featured a 0.75" caliber 46 inch long barrel and overall length of 62.5 inches, definitely a substantial arm by today's standards. Many of these would later be updated by being shortened or converted to percussion, but this example still has the original 46" barrel in flintlock. Many of these were still in use during the U.S. Revolutionary War, and as the Regiment it is marked to took part, there is a very good chance it did as well!

Even better, it might have seen service on BOTH SIDES! This musket was definitely restocked in America, with a much slimmer profile stock that looks to be made from figured wood, possibly maple, very commonly used as a stock wood in early America. The stock design still retains the "bannister rail" butt stock, a feature that was basically done away with after 1807. However, there is no screw rising from the trigger guard to the escutcheon on the back of the wrist, and the ramrod pipes are definitely much less substantial than the British used at the time. There are also only three of them, when a musket this length would have usually had four. There is also a PHIL'A marking on the butt plate tang, possibly indicating it was used in Philadelphia after being reconstructed. Definitely some great deep research potential for this long arm!

The musket has a full 46" regulation length, .75" smoothbore iron barrel, which bears some very faint proof marks, mostly worn away by powder burn. There is however a clear STAR / TI marking, most likely the initials of the maker of the barrel. The barrel marked on the top with X'TH REG'T of F'T, for issue to the British 10th Regiment of Foot, which saw extensive service in America during the revolutionary war.

The early style lock plate is fully marked with CROWN / G.R. mid lock for King George III, with TOWER marked on the tail. It also has the CROWN / BROAD ARROW "Lock Viewer's" marking under the flash pan. The lock surface has the correct curved profile of Pre-1777 manufacture, which later turned to be flattened. The lock has a swan neck cock, indicating pre-1808 construction, however it does have a frizzen support bridle from the pan, so the lock itself most likely came from a different musket than the barrel. During the Revolutionary War, muskets made from captured British parts almost always had parts swapped. The lock is functional, however it will fire at both full and half cock.

The lovely figured stock is definitely more lightweight and streamlined than the typical British stock of the time. It has a lovely color, with figuring over almost the entire fore stock area, and really looks great. It shows wear and handling marks, as expected on a musket over two centuries old. There are some cracks on the right side near the front of lock plate, and there is some cracking on the left side by the front of the side plate. There are also some repaired cracks on the left fore stock, relatively common due to the thinner profile of the stock. There are holes in the fore stock and trigger guard for sling swivels, however both are missing.

The 10th Regiment of Foot was first raised 20 June 1685 as the Earl of Bath's Regiment for its first Colonel, John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath. In 1751, it was numbered like most other Army regiments and named the 10th Regiment of Foot. Under this designation it saw service during the American Revolutionary War. While in America it saw service in the following engagements:

- the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775
- the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775
- the New York Campaign in winter 1776
- the Battle of Germantown in October 1777
- the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778
- the Battle of Rhode Island in August 1778.

In 1778, the 10th returned home to England after 19 years service overseas. In 1782, the regiment was linked to the county of Lincolnshire for recruiting. It would later take part in the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic wars at the turn of the 19th Century.

An original amazing 46" Long Land Musket with a nice Revolutionary War History, restocked in America and possibly later used against the British. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1780-1790, made with earlier parts
Caliber: .75" Musket
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 46 inches
Overall Length: 61 1/2 inches
Action: Flintlock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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