Brown Bess Makers?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Is there anyone out there building Brown Bess muskets? I’m wanting one as close as humanly possible to an original AWI era Bess, but do not want an original in case I damage it during shooting and field use.

Again, I’m striving for MAXIMUM authenticity only. Thank you.

-Smokey

[Mike Brooks]

Here's some I have made in the past.  The last one is so early it's iron mounted. I'm two years out at the moment and these aren't cheap.
http://www.fowlingguns.com/gunforsale10.html
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Gunmaker/library/317%20Fulton%20Bess?sort=3&page=1
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Gunmaker/library/Pickard%20Bess?sort=3&page=1

[Longknife]

The Rifle Shoppe has parts for several Bess muskets but it will probably take more than two years to get the parts!!

http://www.therifleshoppe.com/catalog_pages/english_arms/english_arms.htm

[Smokey Plainsman]

I don’t build personally but thank you!

[yulzari]

http://www.militiahouse.com   looks promising but I know no more than the website.

[Smokey Plainsman]

Imteresing, thanks!

http://www.militiahouse.com/gun-building--parts.html

They seem to offer one for $1400. That seems awfully low. Perhaps that’s just the cost of parts?

[Mike Brooks]

Imteresing, thanks!

http://www.militiahouse.com/gun-building--parts.html

They seem to offer one for $1400. That seems awfully low. Perhaps that’s just the cost of parts?

There has to be $1000 in parts. I certainly wouldn't build one for $400.

[fahnenschmied]

The Militia House musket looks rather nice, but the lock sure looks like a Pedersoli lock, as no originals have the edging so wide apart.  So I wonder if it is "all American" in that respect.  Illustrated musket needs the shape of the raised carving around the tang redone too. Also, one would not want American black walnut for a Bess, originals ones are not normally so dark.  I assembled a Rifle Shoppe parts kit for a friend, an early one where the barrel pins also hold the rammer pipes.  Like the other guy said, I wouldn't build another for 400.