Hello,
       my main interest in shooting is airguns and collecting .     I have acquired a Brown Bess musket .   I know a little about these  , but not enough .  Can anyone help identify my model or point me in the right direction .........
39" , steel ram rod , 'CROWN ' and 'GR' to lockplate , two proof marks ( a friend dated these to Birmingham 1815 ) ,  with  a makers mark of 'P&R' lying between the two previous marks .  There is also a tiny mark , to the front of the triggerguard ,'29' under a crown .
       Who were P&R ? Am I right that an arrow mark should be visible on the lockplate , and if so , what does the arrow stand for ? .        I also obtained a BB socket bayonet , with the markings of ' MAKIN' ,' MM', a '6' under a crown , and in very large letters  '27'.
        As I said old airguns is more my field - if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated...
Jon
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"Brown Bess" is a generic term for the British infantry musket which changed relatively little for 150 years - so there are several patterns & many variants, you would need to post a couple of pictures to get a clear id. Most likely it is the "India" pattern, from your description of markings & barrel lengths. Adrian.

This gun may date from the 1840s as P & R was the mark of Pryse and Redman. The trade in muskets went on for decades after they became obsolete for European purposes.
 
If you have any pictures you can send them directly to me at
 
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