Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord!
If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here.

Brown Bess Flintlock Musket: Difference between revisions

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Jump to navigation Jump to search
VisualWikitext
 
(95 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Militarydoglock.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Modern reproduction of 17th Century English Doglock Musket, predecessor of the Brown Bess musket.]]
[[Image:BrownBessInfantry-Musket-1722-1768.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Modern reproduction "Long Land Pattern" Brown Bess Infantry musket made from 1722-1768 - .75 caliber.]]
[[Image:BrownBessInfantry-Musket-1722-1768.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Modern reproduction "Long Land Pattern" Brown Bess Infantry musket made from 1722-1768 - .75 caliber.]]
[[Image:Short land pattern brown bess.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Original "Short Land Pattern" Brown Bess musket made 1768-1805 - .75 caliber]]
[[Image:Short land pattern brown bess.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Original "Short Land Pattern" Brown Bess musket made 1768-1805 - .75 caliber]]
[[Image:India pattern brown bess.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Original "India Pattern" Brown Bess musket made 1805-1840 - .75 caliber]]
[[Image:India pattern brown bess.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Original "India Pattern" Brown Bess musket made 1805-1840 - .75 caliber]]
[[Image:S262b.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Modern reproduction Sea Service Brown Bess Naval musket]]
[[File:BB Musket repro.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Modern reproduction Brown Bess Carbine - .75 caliber]]
The '''Brown Bess (British Long Land Pattern)''' was a smooth-bore flintlock musket that was standard issue with the British Army throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, including the French and Indian / 7 Years War, the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars.  For the purposes of this page, Brown Bess refers to any of the British Land Pattern Muskets of 1722-1883, which include the Long Land Pattern, Short Land Pattern, Sea Service Pattern, India Pattern, New Land Pattern and New Light Infantry Land Pattern Cavalry Carbine.   
The '''British Long Land Pattern''' musket, nicknamed the '''"Brown Bess"''', was a smoothbore flintlock musket that was standard-issue with the British Army throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, including the French and Indian / 7 Years War, the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars.   


For the purposes of this page, "Brown Bess" refers collectively to any of the British Land Pattern Muskets of 1722-1883, which include the Long Land Pattern, Short Land Pattern, Sea Service Pattern, India Pattern, New Land Pattern and New Light Infantry Land Pattern Cavalry Carbine.


'''Specifications'''
'''N.B. Virtually all {{PAGENAME}}s seen in films or television productions are modern reproductions, due to historical specimens being highly expensive and unsafe to fire due to age- or conservation-related concerns.'''
 
__TOC__
 
=Specifications=
*Weight: 10.5 pounds (4.8 kg)
*Weight: 10.5 pounds (4.8 kg)
*Length: 58.5 inches (1,490 mm)
*Length: 58.5 inches (1,490 mm)
Line 12: Line 18:
*Cartridge: 0.71 inches (18 mm) lead ball, undersized to reduce the effects of powder fouling.
*Cartridge: 0.71 inches (18 mm) lead ball, undersized to reduce the effects of powder fouling.
*Caliber: 0.75 inches (19 mm)
*Caliber: 0.75 inches (19 mm)
*Capacity:      1
*Action: Flintlock
*Action: Flintlock
*Rate of fire: User dependent; usually 3+ rounds a minute
*Rate of fire: User-dependent; usually 2-3 rounds a minute
*Muzzle velocity: Variable
*Muzzle velocity: Variable
*Effective range: Variable (50-100 yards)
*Effective range: Variable (50-100 yards)
*Feed system: Muzzle loaded
*Feed system: Muzzle-loaded
*Fire Modes:    Single Shot


 
-----
'''The Brown Bess Flintlock Musket has been used in the following:'''
{{Gun Title}}


==Film==
==Film==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#ffffff"
|-
!width="280"|Title
!width="170"|Actor
!width="200"|Character
!width="150"|Note
!width="50"|Date
|-
| ''[[Jánošík]]'' || || Brigands || || 1921
|-
| ''[[Treasure Island (Ostrov sokrovishch) (1937)|Treasure Island (Ostrov sokrovishch)]]'' || || Irish rebels || || 1937
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Blackbeard, the Pirate]]'' || [[Don House]] || Soldier || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|1952
|-
| [[Chuck Roberson]] || Soldier
|-
| || British soldiers
|-
| ''[[The Spessart Inn]]'' || [[Ralf Wolter]] || Brigand || || 1958
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[The Devil's Disciple]]'' || [[Burt Lancaster]] || Rev. Anthony Anderson || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|1959
|-
| [[George Rose]] || British sergeant
|-
| || British soldiers, rebels
|-
| ''[[Kidnapped (1960)|Kidnapped]]'' || || British soldiers, Assassin || || 1960
|-
| ''[[Burn!]]'' || || British soldiers || || 1969
|-
| ''[[Apaches (Apachen)]]'' || || Johnson's men, Mexican soldiers and townsmen || || 1973
|-
| ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'' || || Two Arabian Bad Guys || || 1974
|-
|''[[The Duellists]]''|| || French soldiers || || 1975
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Barry Lyndon]]'' || [[Ryan O'Neal]] || Redmont Barry || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2| 1975
|-
| || British and Prussian soldiers
|-
| rowspan=4|''[[Blue Bird]]'' || Kurt Böwe || John Ruster || rowspan=4| || rowspan=4|1979
|-
| [[Jan Spitzer]] || Andrew
|-
| Gheorghe Patru || Raccoon
|-
| || British and French soldiers, settlers, Iroquois warriors
|-
|''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]''|| || || Seen in Clouseau's apartment || 1982
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[The Bounty]]''|| [[Richard Graham]] || Mills || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1984
|-
| || British soldiers and seamen
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Revolution (1985)|Revolution]]'' || [[Al Pacino]] || Tom Dobb || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|1985
|-
| [[Donald Sutherland]] || Sgt. Maj. Peasy
|-
| || British troops
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Mission, The (1986)|The Mission]]''|| [[Liam Neeson]] || Fielding || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1986
|-
| || Spanish and Portuguese soldiers
|-
| ''[[Shipwrecked]]'' || || Pirates || || 1990
|-
| rowspan=4|''[[Journey of Honor]]''|| [[Kane Kosugi]] || Yorimune || rowspan=4| || rowspan=4|1991
|-
| [[Shô Kosugi]] || Daigoro Mayeda
|-
| [[Norman Lloyd]] || Father Vasco
|-
| || Spanish and Japanese soldiers
|-
| rowspan=4|''[[The Last of the Mohicans]]'' || [[Russell Means]] || Chingachgook || rowspan=4| || rowspan=4|1992
|-
| [[Eric Schweig]] || Uncas
|-
| [[Wes Studi]] || Magua
|-
| || British and French infantry, Hurons and Mohicans
|-
| ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III]]'' || || Walker's men || || 1993
|-
| ''[[Red Rock West]]'' || || || Seen in Sheriff Wayne's office || 1993
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Kidnapped (1995)|Kidnapped]]'' || [[Don Wycherley]] || Rory || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|1995
|-
| [[Brian McGrath]] || James Stewart of The Glen
|-
| || James men and women, British soldiers
|-
| ''[[Get Shorty]]'' || || Men dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers || || 1995
|-
| rowspan=4|''[[Cutthroat Island]]'' || [[Geena Davis]] || Morgan Adams || rowspan=4| || rowspan=4|1995
|-
| [[Stan Shaw]] || Glaspool
|-
| [[Rex Linn]] || Blair
|-
| || English soldiers
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Rob Roy]]''|| [[Tim Roth]] || Archibald Cunningham || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1995
|-
| || Highland Regiment
|-
|''[[Bad Moon]]''|| || Sherpa guides || ||1996
|-
|''[[Amistad]]''|| || Royal Marines || ||1997
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Almost Heroes]]''|| [[Bokeem Woodbine]] || Jonah || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1998
|-
| || American soldiers
|-
|''[[The Mask of Zorro]]''|| || Mexican soldiers || ||1998
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Hornblower: The Even Chance]]'' || [[Robert Lindsay]] || Captain Edward Pellew || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1998
|-
| || Royal Marines
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant]]'' || [[Ioan Gruffudd]] || Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|1998
|-
| [[Paul Copley]] || Matthews
|-
| || Royal Marines
|-
| ''[[Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil]]'' || || Royal Navy seamen || || 1999
|-
| ''[[Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters]]'' || || British and French Royalist soldiers || || 1999
|-
| rowspan=4|''[[Sleepy Hollow]]''|| [[Mark Spalding]] || Jonathan Masbath || rowspan=4| || rowspan=4|1999
|-
| [[Marc Pickering]] || Young Masbath
|-
| [[Casper Van Dien]] || Brom Van Brunt
|-
| || Soldiers
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Anna and the King]]''|| [[Randall Duk Kim]] || General Alak || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|1999
|-
| || Soldiers
|-
|''[[Plunkett and Macleane]]''|| || Thief-takers || ||1999
|-
| ''[[Patriot, The (2000)|The Patriot]]'' || || British soldiers || || 2000
|-
| ''[[Tiger Head (Cabeza de Tigre)]]'' || || Argentinean revolutionary soldiers || || 2001
|-
| ''[[Hornblower: Mutiny]]'' || || Royal Marines || || 2001
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Hornblower: Retribution]]'' || Gilly Gilchrist || Randall || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2001
|-
| || Royal Marines, Royal Navy seamen, rebelling Spanish prisoners
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Hornblower: Loyalty]]'' || [[Greg Wise]] || Major Côtard || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2003
|-
| || Royal Marines
|-
| ''[[Hornblower: Duty]]'' || || Royal Marines || || 2003
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World]]'' || [[Chris Larkin]] || Captain Howard || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2| 2003
|-
| || British Marines
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]'' || [[Orlando Bloom]] || Will Turner || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|2003
|-
| [[Keira Knightley]] || Elizabeth Swann
|-
| || British soldiers and pirates
|-
| ''[[Fanfan la Tulipe (2003)|Fanfan la Tulipe]]'' || || French and British soldiers || || 2003
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Bell Witch Haunting]]'' || Doug Moore || John Bell || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2| 2004
|-
| Asa Wiggins || Richard Bell
|-
| ''[[Alamo, The (2004)|The Alamo]]'' || || The Mexican Army || || 2004
|-
| ''[[The Legend of Zorro]]'' || || Soldiers, McGivens' men || || 2005
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[An American Haunting]]'' || [[Donald Sutherland]] || John Bell || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|2005
|-
| [[Thom Fell]] || John Bell Jr.
|-
| [[James D'Arcy]] || Richard Powell
|-
| ''[[Oliver Twist (2005)|Oliver Twist]]'' || || Policemen || || 2005
|-
| ''[[Pirates of Treasure Island]]'' || || || Seen on the wall ||2006
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Alatriste]]'' || [[Eduardo Noriega]] || Conde de Guadalmedina || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2006
|-
| [[Simon Cohen]] || King Philip IV of Spain
|-
| ''[[Goya's Ghosts]]'' || [[Stellan Skarsgård]] || Francisco Goya || || 2006
|-
| ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' || || British soldiers || || 2006
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[The Sovereign's Servant (Sluga Gosudarev)]]'' || [[Nikolay Chindyaykin]] || The Inn owner || rowspan=3| || rowspan=3|2007
|-
| [[Aleksey Chadov]] || Angie
|-
| || Swedish and Russian soldiers
|-
| ''[[My Name Is Bruce]]'' || || A townsman || || 2007
|-
| ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]'' || || East India Trading Company soldiers || || 2007
|-
| ''[[The Young Victoria]]'' || || British soldiers || || 2009
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides]]''|| [[Johnny Depp]] || Jack Sparrow || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2011
|-
| || British soldiers
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[47 Ronin]]''|| [[Keanu Reeves]] || Kai || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2013
|-
| || Dutch sailors
|-
|''[[Hot Tub Time Machine 2]]''|| [[Rob Corddry]] || Lou Dorchen || ||2015
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[In the Heart of the Sea]]''|| [[Chris Hemsworth]] || Owen Chase || rowspan=2| || rowspan=2|2015
|-
| [[Cillian Murphy]] || Matthew Joy
|-
| rowspan=9 | ''[[The Revenant (2015)|The Revenant]]''|| [[Domhnall Gleeson]] || Andrew Henry || rowspan=9 | Carbine || rowspan=9 | 2015
|-
| [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] || Hugh Glass
|-
| [[Tom Hardy]] || John Fitzgerald
|-
| [[Forrest Goodluck]] || Hawk
|-
| [[Kristoffer Joner]] || Murphy
|-
| [[Lukas Haas]] || Jones
|-
| [[Will Poulter]] || Bridger
|-
| [[Paul Anderson]] || Anderson
|-
|  || Trappers
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Pride and Prejudice and Zombies]]''|| Douglas Booth || Mr. Bingley || rowspan=2 | || rowspan=2 | 2016
|-
| || British soldiers
|-
| rowspan=5 | ''[[Black '47]]''|| [[Barry Keoghan]] || Private Hobson || Percussion Cap || rowspan=5 | 2018
|-
| [[James Frecheville]] || Martin Feeney || rowspan=3 | Carbine
|-
| [[Hugo Weaving]] || Hannah
|-
| || Irish Police
|-
| || British soldiers || Percussion Cap
|-
| ''[[Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask]]'' || || Russian soldiers || || 2019
|-
| ''[[Prey (2022)|Prey]]'' || || French trappers || Anachronistic || 2022
|-
|''[[Napoleon (2023)]]''||||British soldiers||||2023
|-


* Various characters in ''[[The Last of the Mohicans]]''
|}


* The Mexican Army in '[[Alamo, The (2004)|The Alamo (2004)]]
==Television==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; background-color:#ffffff"
|-
! width="250"|Show Title
! width="170"|Actor
! width="200"|Character
! width="250"|Note / Episode
! width="80"|Air Date
|-
| ''[[Jamaica Inn (1983)|Jamaica Inn]]'' || || Soldiers, wreckers || || 1983
|-
| ''[[The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries]]'' || || || Seen in weapon collection; "A Man Lay Dead" (S01E01) || 1993
|-
| ''[[Sharpe's Rifles]]'' || || British Army soldiers || || 1993
|-
| ''[[Sharpe's Enemy]]'' || || British Army soldiers || || 1994
|-
| ''[[Sharpe's Company]]'' || || British Army soldiers || || 1994
|-
| rowspan=6|''[[The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson]]''|| [[Kieren Hutchison]] || Ernst Robinson || rowspan=6| || rowspan=6|1998
|-
| [[Richard Thomas]] || David Robinson
|-
| [[Margo Gunn]] || Elizabeth Robinson
|-
| [[Junior Chile]] || Billy
|-
| [[K.C. Kelly]] || Jed Parsons
|-
| [[Gareth Howells]] || Ben Thomas
|-
| ''[[Blackbeard]]'' || || British marines, soldiers and pirates || || 2006
|-
| ''[[Lock 'n Load With R. Lee Ermey]]'' || || Gunny || || 2009
|-
|''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV Series)|Sleepy Hollow]]'' || || || ||2013
|-
| rowspan=4 | ''[[Salem - Season 1|Salem]]'' || W.M. Bacon || soldier || "The Vow" (S1E01) || rowspan=4 | 2014
|-
| Michael Sieve || soldier || "Ashes to Ashes" (S1E12)
|-
| Michael P Gardner || vigilant || "All Fall Down" (S1E13)
|-
||| soldiers, prison guards, guardians vigilantes ||
|-
| rowspan=4|''[[Black Sails]]'' || [[Shaun Acker]] || Mr Beauclerk || (S01E05) || rowspan=4|2014-2015
|-
| || Two men of the Scarborough || (S01E01)
|-
| [[Hakeem Kae-Kazim]] || Mr. Scott ||
|-
| || ''Walrus'' crewmember ||
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 1]]'' || [[Seth Numrich]] || Ben Tallmadge || (S1E03) || rowspan=2|2014
|-
| || British and Continental Army soldiers ||
|-
| rowspan=2|''[[Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 2]]'' || [[Samuel Roukin]] || Capt. John Simcoe || (S2E06) || rowspan=2|2015
|-
| || British, Hessian, and Continental Army soldiers ||
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 3]]'' || [[Samuel Roukin]] || Capt. John Simcoe || (S3E03) || rowspan=3|2016
|-
| [[Seth Numrich]] || Ben Tallmadge || (S3E08)
|-
| || British, Hessian, and Continental Army soldiers ||
|-
| rowspan=5 | ''[[Salem - Season 3|Salem]]'' || [[Shane West]] || Captain John Alden || rowspan=2 | || rowspan=5 | 2016-2017
|-
| Emily Skeggs || Billy
|-
| [[Owen Harn]] || Militia Leader || "After the Fall" (S3E01)
|-
| Perry Hinson || Militia Man || "After the Fall" (S3E01)
|-
||| Soldiers, Militia ||
|-
| rowspan=3|''[[Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 4]]'' || [[Aldis Hodge]] || Akinbode || (S4E03) || rowspan=3|2017
|-
| [[Jamie Bell]] || Abraham Woodhull || (S4E06, E07, E08)
|-
| || British, Hessian, and Continental Army soldiers ||
|-
|''[[Taboo]]''||[[Tom Hardy]]||James Keziah Delaney  ||||2017
|-
|''[[Always a Witch (Siempre Bruja) - Season 2]]''||||Spanish soldiers||"Someone Like Me" (S2E01)||2020
|-
|}


* Soldiers in ''[[Patriot, The (2000)|The Patriot]]''
==Video Games==
 
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
* Two Arabian Bad Guys in ''[[Blazing Saddles]]''
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
 
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Game Title'''
* British soldiers and various characters in ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]'', ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'', and ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="150"|'''Appears as'''
 
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Mods'''
* British Marines and various characters in ''[[Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World]]''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="200"|'''Notation'''
 
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Release Date'''
==Television==
|-
|-
|''[[Civilization IV]]''|||| ||||2005
|-
|''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''|||| ||||2012
|-
|''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''||||||||2013
|-
|''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]''||||Pistol Grip||||2013
|-
|''[[Assassin's Creed Rogue ]]''||||||||2013
|-
|''[[Assassin's Creed Unity]]''||||||||2014
|-
|''[[Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades]]''||"Brown Bess"|| || ||2016
|-
|}


* British Army soldiers in the television series ''[[Hawkeye]]'' (1994)
==Animation==
* British Army soldiers in ''[[Sharpe's Rifles]]'' (1993), et al.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="250"|'''Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="150"|'''Characters'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="350"|'''Notation'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="80"|''' Date'''
|-
| ''[[Treasure Island (1988)|Treasure Island]]'' ||Pirates ||  || 1988
|-
| ''[[Love, Death & Robots - Season 1]]'' ||  ||seen stuck in the jelly; "Alternate Histories" (S1E17) || 2019
|-
|}


==Anime==
==Anime==
* British soldiers in ''[[Le Chevalier D'Eon]]'' (Long Land Pattern version) (2006)
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="1" style="border: 1px solid #D0E7FF; background-color:#ffffff; text-align:left; font-size: 95%"
|-bgcolor=#D0E7FF
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Film Title'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="275"|'''Character'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="300"|'''Note'''
!align=center bgcolor=#D0E7FF width="100"|'''Date'''
|-
| ''[[Le Chevalier D'Eon]]'' || British soldiers || Long Land Pattern version || 2006
|-
| ''[[Ghost Slayers Ayashi]]'' || Mexican soldiers ||  ||2006-2007
|-
| ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'' || Mami Tomoe ||  || 2011
|-
| ''[[Date A Bullet]]'' || Kurumi Tokisaki || || 2020
|-
|}


[[Category:Gun]]
[[Category:Gun]]
[[Category:Rifle]]
[[Category:Rifle]]
[[Category:Battle Rifle]]
[[Category:Battle Rifle]]
[[Category:Muzzleloader]]

Latest revision as of 18:16, 29 November 2023

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Modern reproduction of 17th Century English Doglock Musket, predecessor of the Brown Bess musket.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Modern reproduction "Long Land Pattern" Brown Bess Infantry musket made from 1722-1768 - .75 caliber.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Original "Short Land Pattern" Brown Bess musket made 1768-1805 - .75 caliber
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Original "India Pattern" Brown Bess musket made 1805-1840 - .75 caliber
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Modern reproduction Brown Bess Carbine - .75 caliber

The British Long Land Pattern musket, nicknamed the "Brown Bess", was a smoothbore flintlock musket that was standard-issue with the British Army throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, including the French and Indian / 7 Years War, the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars.

For the purposes of this page, "Brown Bess" refers collectively to any of the British Land Pattern Muskets of 1722-1883, which include the Long Land Pattern, Short Land Pattern, Sea Service Pattern, India Pattern, New Land Pattern and New Light Infantry Land Pattern Cavalry Carbine.

N.B. Virtually all Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets seen in films or television productions are modern reproductions, due to historical specimens being highly expensive and unsafe to fire due to age- or conservation-related concerns.

Specifications

  • Weight: 10.5 pounds (4.8 kg)
  • Length: 58.5 inches (1,490 mm)
  • Barrel length: 42 inches (1,100 mm)
  • Cartridge: 0.71 inches (18 mm) lead ball, undersized to reduce the effects of powder fouling.
  • Caliber: 0.75 inches (19 mm)
  • Capacity: 1
  • Action: Flintlock
  • Rate of fire: User-dependent; usually 2-3 rounds a minute
  • Muzzle velocity: Variable
  • Effective range: Variable (50-100 yards)
  • Feed system: Muzzle-loaded
  • Fire Modes: Single Shot

The Brown Bess Flintlock Musket and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:

Film

Title Actor Character Note Date
Jánošík Brigands 1921
Treasure Island (Ostrov sokrovishch) Irish rebels 1937
Blackbeard, the Pirate Don House Soldier 1952
Chuck Roberson Soldier
British soldiers
The Spessart Inn Ralf Wolter Brigand 1958
The Devil's Disciple Burt Lancaster Rev. Anthony Anderson 1959
George Rose British sergeant
British soldiers, rebels
Kidnapped British soldiers, Assassin 1960
Burn! British soldiers 1969
Apaches (Apachen) Johnson's men, Mexican soldiers and townsmen 1973
Blazing Saddles Two Arabian Bad Guys 1974
The Duellists French soldiers 1975
Barry Lyndon Ryan O'Neal Redmont Barry 1975
British and Prussian soldiers
Blue Bird Kurt Böwe John Ruster 1979
Jan Spitzer Andrew
Gheorghe Patru Raccoon
British and French soldiers, settlers, Iroquois warriors
Trail of the Pink Panther Seen in Clouseau's apartment 1982
The Bounty Richard Graham Mills 1984
British soldiers and seamen
Revolution Al Pacino Tom Dobb 1985
Donald Sutherland Sgt. Maj. Peasy
British troops
The Mission Liam Neeson Fielding 1986
Spanish and Portuguese soldiers
Shipwrecked Pirates 1990
Journey of Honor Kane Kosugi Yorimune 1991
Shô Kosugi Daigoro Mayeda
Norman Lloyd Father Vasco
Spanish and Japanese soldiers
The Last of the Mohicans Russell Means Chingachgook 1992
Eric Schweig Uncas
Wes Studi Magua
British and French infantry, Hurons and Mohicans
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III Walker's men 1993
Red Rock West Seen in Sheriff Wayne's office 1993
Kidnapped Don Wycherley Rory 1995
Brian McGrath James Stewart of The Glen
James men and women, British soldiers
Get Shorty Men dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers 1995
Cutthroat Island Geena Davis Morgan Adams 1995
Stan Shaw Glaspool
Rex Linn Blair
English soldiers
Rob Roy Tim Roth Archibald Cunningham 1995
Highland Regiment
Bad Moon Sherpa guides 1996
Amistad Royal Marines 1997
Almost Heroes Bokeem Woodbine Jonah 1998
American soldiers
The Mask of Zorro Mexican soldiers 1998
Hornblower: The Even Chance Robert Lindsay Captain Edward Pellew 1998
Royal Marines
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant Ioan Gruffudd Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower 1998
Paul Copley Matthews
Royal Marines
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil Royal Navy seamen 1999
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters British and French Royalist soldiers 1999
Sleepy Hollow Mark Spalding Jonathan Masbath 1999
Marc Pickering Young Masbath
Casper Van Dien Brom Van Brunt
Soldiers
Anna and the King Randall Duk Kim General Alak 1999
Soldiers
Plunkett and Macleane Thief-takers 1999
The Patriot British soldiers 2000
Tiger Head (Cabeza de Tigre) Argentinean revolutionary soldiers 2001
Hornblower: Mutiny Royal Marines 2001
Hornblower: Retribution Gilly Gilchrist Randall 2001
Royal Marines, Royal Navy seamen, rebelling Spanish prisoners
Hornblower: Loyalty Greg Wise Major Côtard 2003
Royal Marines
Hornblower: Duty Royal Marines 2003
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Chris Larkin Captain Howard 2003
British Marines
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Orlando Bloom Will Turner 2003
Keira Knightley Elizabeth Swann
British soldiers and pirates
Fanfan la Tulipe French and British soldiers 2003
Bell Witch Haunting Doug Moore John Bell 2004
Asa Wiggins Richard Bell
The Alamo The Mexican Army 2004
The Legend of Zorro Soldiers, McGivens' men 2005
An American Haunting Donald Sutherland John Bell 2005
Thom Fell John Bell Jr.
James D'Arcy Richard Powell
Oliver Twist Policemen 2005
Pirates of Treasure Island Seen on the wall 2006
Alatriste Eduardo Noriega Conde de Guadalmedina 2006
Simon Cohen King Philip IV of Spain
Goya's Ghosts Stellan Skarsgård Francisco Goya 2006
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest British soldiers 2006
The Sovereign's Servant (Sluga Gosudarev) Nikolay Chindyaykin The Inn owner 2007
Aleksey Chadov Angie
Swedish and Russian soldiers
My Name Is Bruce A townsman 2007
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End East India Trading Company soldiers 2007
The Young Victoria British soldiers 2009
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Johnny Depp Jack Sparrow 2011
British soldiers
47 Ronin Keanu Reeves Kai 2013
Dutch sailors
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 Rob Corddry Lou Dorchen 2015
In the Heart of the Sea Chris Hemsworth Owen Chase 2015
Cillian Murphy Matthew Joy
The Revenant Domhnall Gleeson Andrew Henry Carbine 2015
Leonardo DiCaprio Hugh Glass
Tom Hardy John Fitzgerald
Forrest Goodluck Hawk
Kristoffer Joner Murphy
Lukas Haas Jones
Will Poulter Bridger
Paul Anderson Anderson
Trappers
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Douglas Booth Mr. Bingley 2016
British soldiers
Black '47 Barry Keoghan Private Hobson Percussion Cap 2018
James Frecheville Martin Feeney Carbine
Hugo Weaving Hannah
Irish Police
British soldiers Percussion Cap
Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask Russian soldiers 2019
Prey French trappers Anachronistic 2022
Napoleon (2023) British soldiers 2023

Television

Show Title Actor Character Note / Episode Air Date
Jamaica Inn Soldiers, wreckers 1983
The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries Seen in weapon collection; "A Man Lay Dead" (S01E01) 1993
Sharpe's Rifles British Army soldiers 1993
Sharpe's Enemy British Army soldiers 1994
Sharpe's Company British Army soldiers 1994
The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson Kieren Hutchison Ernst Robinson 1998
Richard Thomas David Robinson
Margo Gunn Elizabeth Robinson
Junior Chile Billy
K.C. Kelly Jed Parsons
Gareth Howells Ben Thomas
Blackbeard British marines, soldiers and pirates 2006
Lock 'n Load With R. Lee Ermey Gunny 2009
Sleepy Hollow 2013
Salem W.M. Bacon soldier "The Vow" (S1E01) 2014
Michael Sieve soldier "Ashes to Ashes" (S1E12)
Michael P Gardner vigilant "All Fall Down" (S1E13)
soldiers, prison guards, guardians vigilantes
Black Sails Shaun Acker Mr Beauclerk (S01E05) 2014-2015
Two men of the Scarborough (S01E01)
Hakeem Kae-Kazim Mr. Scott
Walrus crewmember
Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 1 Seth Numrich Ben Tallmadge (S1E03) 2014
British and Continental Army soldiers
Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 2 Samuel Roukin Capt. John Simcoe (S2E06) 2015
British, Hessian, and Continental Army soldiers
Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 3 Samuel Roukin Capt. John Simcoe (S3E03) 2016
Seth Numrich Ben Tallmadge (S3E08)
British, Hessian, and Continental Army soldiers
Salem Shane West Captain John Alden 2016-2017
Emily Skeggs Billy
Owen Harn Militia Leader "After the Fall" (S3E01)
Perry Hinson Militia Man "After the Fall" (S3E01)
Soldiers, Militia
Turn: Washington's Spies - Season 4 Aldis Hodge Akinbode (S4E03) 2017
Jamie Bell Abraham Woodhull (S4E06, E07, E08)
British, Hessian, and Continental Army soldiers
Taboo Tom Hardy James Keziah Delaney 2017
Always a Witch (Siempre Bruja) - Season 2 Spanish soldiers "Someone Like Me" (S2E01) 2020

Video Games

Game Title Appears as Mods Notation Release Date
Civilization IV 2005
Assassin's Creed III 2012
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag 2013
Grand Theft Auto V Pistol Grip 2013
Assassin's Creed Rogue 2013
Assassin's Creed Unity 2014
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades "Brown Bess" 2016

Animation

Title Characters Notation Date
Treasure Island Pirates 1988
Love, Death & Robots - Season 1 seen stuck in the jelly; "Alternate Histories" (S1E17) 2019

Anime

Film Title Character Note Date
Le Chevalier D'Eon British soldiers Long Land Pattern version 2006
Ghost Slayers Ayashi Mexican soldiers 2006-2007
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Mami Tomoe 2011
Date A Bullet Kurumi Tokisaki 2020
Retrieved from "https://www.buildlogs.org/index.php?title=Brown_Bess_Flintlock_Musket&oldid=1631821"