Brown Musket?

[dlindow]

Hello All,
I have been researching an Indiana Legion regiment, and one of the companies, the Rough and Readies, were issued .69 caliber muskets. In the company's report on the state of the company, the kind of musket they have been issued is simply marked as "39 Brown Muskets .69 caliber." Since this is militia, is it possible they have been given Brown Bess muskets? The other companies in this county regiment have quite a variety such as Lorenz, Belgian, .58 Springfields, Mississippi, and Enfield muskets. This particular unit did cross into Kentucky and fought the 10th Kentucky Partisan Rangers, and would be called upon to defend Kentucky towns along the Ohio multiple times in 1862 especially. I know weapons were very difficult to come by for home guard companies, but I was not aware of Brown Bess muskets in large enough numbers to be issued.

I have attached a picture I took of the document with the above information. Any help or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

[Tyler Underwood]

Re: Brown Musket?

The Brown Bess was a .75 caliber musket.
I wonder if they are referring to one of the 1816 models that were browned.
Perhaps Curt, Mark or Jason can chime in and offer up some info.

[Mississippian]

Re: Brown Musket?

I would guess the same as Tyler: it's one of the early models of the 1816/22 that had browned barrels.

Some of the late model .75 Bess's did come into Confederate ports, with issues being made in the AoT and Vicksburg armies. There are also some reports of 1812 vintage British muskets in the hands of some Confederates at Ft. Donelson.

William MacDonald

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Brown Musket?

I would also guess the reference is to "NAB" ("National Armory Brown") muskets of the 1816/22 pattern (Type 2, I think?).

[dlindow]

Re: Brown Musket?

Thank you all for responding! Your thoughts definitely help me think it may be the browned barrels that you mention. Thank you again!

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Brown Musket?

Hallo!

The M1822 went through three "versions."

The "M1816 Type I's" were browned mostly, but they do turn up with bright barrels or sometimes browned barrels but bright bands. These were made from 1816 through 1822. Lock plates and hammers were left color-case-hardened colors.

The "M1816 Type II's" made from 1822 through 1831 were the same.

But in 1831, it was decided to drop the browning on all parts, and go "National Armory Bright." ("M1816 Type III's)

On the bayonets, they also browned the sockets and elbows to match the browned barrels.

IMHO. I would infer "Brown" and ".69" as M1822's ("M1816 Types I or II.")

Curt

- - - Updated - - -

Hallo!

NUG, the 'Besses" are India Pattern (now aka 3rd Models) or occassionally teh rare '"4th Model" with barrel wedges/keys).

Great Britain had been dumping them for years. Santa Anna was fond of buying them.

While .75 was the goal, it was not unusual for 18th century and early 19th century 'Besses' to vary up to as high as .80 or .81 and down to .73 or .72. (Why the British Board of Ordnance decided on balls of nominal .685 so they were universal.

Curt

[andyrobertshaw]

Re: Brown Musket?

Could the 'Brown' refer to the colour of the metal work? A 'Brown Bess' was chemically and heat treated so that the metalworking including the barrel was a browny/red. See below.

[teufelhund]

Re: Brown Musket?

Here's some excellent examples of brown lacquered barrel muskets:

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=2044&cat=0&page=2

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=2268&cat=0&page=1

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1003&cat=0&page=1

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=2085&cat=0&page=2

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1172&cat=0&page=2