tiles


Note:  Do not rely on this information. It is very old.

Musket

Musket, a smooth-bored, muzzle-loading smallarm, from which has slowly developed the modern rifle. The first British musket was the flint-lock that was famous as "Brown Bess." In Wellington's day" it weighed 11 lbs. 4 oz., and was 4 feet 6a inches long without, and 6 feet long with, its bayonet. The powder charge was 164 grains"; the bullet weighed 483 grains, and each man carried 60 rounds of ammunition and three flints. "Brown Bess" remained in the service till 1842, when the percussion musket followed. The only difference was the substitution of the percussion for the flint-lock, and the consequent reduction of the weight of the musket by 4 oz., although at the same time the weight of the bayonet was increased by 6 oz. [Rifle.] Muskets of this pattern remained in use, except in rifle regiments, throughout the British army until 1851.