AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Longrifle Collecting => Topic started by: Robin Henderson on January 23, 2018, 01:56:03 AM

Title: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: Robin Henderson on January 23, 2018, 01:56:03 AM

A neighbor who has had his eye out for one of these finally found one locally from an old fella that said he had had it for 30+ years. He ask me to check it out for him and make sure there were no issues. I took it apart and cleaned up a little for him with the only markings found being this in view on the barrel:


(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.ibb.co%2FinB8jG%2FMVIMG_20180122_160923_2.jpg&hash=ba9a8ac59924b37e9a6873a6b68837fa12434c7d) (http://imgbb.com/)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.ibb.co%2Fdh1PPG%2FMVIMG_20180122_161008_2.jpg&hash=3ac585c7a005b224878f076b8f068a1d97f5d371) (http://imgbb.com/)

What do you think....Italian or maybe Japanese?

Title: Re: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: smart dog on January 23, 2018, 02:07:40 AM

Hi,
I believe Japanese. The Pedersoli Bess has a lock marked "Grice 1762".  Miroku stamped "TOWER".

dave

Title: Re: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: Robin Henderson on January 23, 2018, 04:01:51 PM

Thanks Dave for the gained knowledge. I find the Brown Bess interesting but don't know much about them.

Title: Re: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: Pukka Bundook on January 23, 2018, 04:52:15 PM

Wobbly,

If Japanese, (Mirouku)  it should have a slightly bent or miss-shaped  trigger-guard.
The Japanese copied their example  exactly, including the bent guard.
Also if Japanese, very light and well made musket!

Title: Re: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: thecapgunkid on January 27, 2018, 07:00:57 PM

Pukka...If Japanese, (Mirouku)  it should have a slightly bent or miss-shaped  trigger-guard.
The Japanese copied their example  exactly, including the bent guard.
Also if Japanese, very light and well made musket!

Yup.  I remember the eighties where I Captained Rogers Rangers Boat #17.  We all wanted Kings Arms and nobody cared that we were carrying the 1770's model. I  could not live with the dented trigger guard. I ended up putting an Italian Guard on it to  make it look right.
What I loved about it was that the cockpiece throw was short so striking the Frizzen did not throw off your aim. This was back in the day when everybody was cutting down muskets, just before everybody hadda have a Tulle...

Title: Re: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: Steve Collward on January 27, 2018, 08:11:55 PM

I would also say it is Japanese 'Bess. I have one, and have seen others with that circle stamped to the left of the serial number.

Title: Re: ID Brown Bess repro
Post by: bones92 on February 20, 2018, 01:53:29 AM

Yes, a Miroku piece, and your neighbor would do well to own it.