British Pattern 1756 Long Land flintlock musket with lock plate engraved "GRICE/1761" behind the cock. The musket has a 46-inch, 76 caliber, smoothbore, pin-fastened barrel. The lock has a single sear screw, goose-neck cock with round top jaw and feather-shaped comb with slotted top cock-screw. The lock has an integral fenced iron pan and steel with flared tip. In addition to the lock-maker's name and date, the lock plate is engraved with the royal cipher (Crown/GR) and "Crown/Broad Arrow" property mark. Double-line borders are engraved on the edges of the lock plate, cock and top jaw. The musket has a hickory ramrod with brass tip. The stock has the early, barrel-shaped, collared, brass upper ramrod pipe for wooden ramrods rather than the long, flared pipe for iron ramrods. British Ordnance records indicate that 1,997 Pattern Long Land muskets were set up for wooden ramrods c. 1760. The English walnut stock has a slightly flared forearm behind the tailpipe, raised "teardrop" behind the lock plate, elongated flat behind the side plate side plate, raised apron around the barrel tang and notched comb. The Pattern 1756 furniture includes a brass forearm cap, three barrel-shaped brass ramrod pipes, tail pipe, convex side-plate with tail, brass escutcheon plate at the wrist, brass buttplate with extended tang and trigger guard with curl at the rear of the bow and "hazelnut" finial. The inside of the lock plate is stamped with the "WG" initials of the lock-maker William Grice. The faint initials "I D" are lightly carved on the right side of the stock comb. The lock has a re-faced steel and replaced feather spring. Both of these repairs typically found on muskets that were repaired in the field. Issued to British forces in American late in the French and Indian War (1756-1763), the Pattern 1756 Long Land musket was the standard weapon of the British Army at the start of the American Revolution in 1775. The Long Land musket remained in general use among British regular and loyalist forces throughout the war and was used by American militia and regulars for most of the war. This musket was part of an Ontario, Canada collection; the combination of the carved initials and lock repairs indicates that this musket was probably used by rebel or loyalist forces during the Revolutionary War and passed into civilian hands after the war. The 1761 dated lock plate makes this musket early enough to have been used in the final actions of the French & Indian War and Pontiac's Rebellion.

Fair. This musket, like most Brown Bess muskets used in the American colonies, shows evidence of years of hard use. The Brown Bess muskets in civilian hands were required for day-to-day survival. They were typically used and repaired until they were no longer serviceable. As a result, Brown Bess muskets in original configuration, particularly the early Long Land patterns, are rare in any condition. With the exception of the period-replaced feather spring, later pattern sling swivels and replacement ramrod, this musket is all original. The stock is in very fine overall condition with no repairs or modifications. The barrel shows ramrod wear at the muzzle and has been shortened about 1/2-inch (this was a typical period modification when the barrel became thin and worn. The barrel has a good looking brown patina with moderate to heavy flash pitting form heavy firing wear from the tang to about three-inches in front of the lock. The bottom of the flash pan has rusted thru indicating the musket was stored loaded and primed for an extended period. The lock plate, cock and steel have an even brown patina with moderate flash pitting. The lock plate was cleaned to reveal the markings; "GRICE/1761" and "CROWN/GR" are fully visible. The Broad Arrow mark is very faint. Although it has moderate-heavy wear, this musket remains in superior condition for a Long Land Brown Bess. The Brown Bess is an important and historic military weapon. Redcoat infantry armed with the Brown Bess musket won the British Empire. Americans with Brown Bess muskets won the American Revolution. Long Land muskets shattered the French Army at Quebec in 1759, probably fired the "Shot Heard "Round the World" on the Lexington Common in 1775, armed both sides at Bunker Hill and were present when Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. No firearm is more closely associated with the critical events of the founding of the United States than the Long Land Brown Bess musket.