Also referred to simply as the 1st Model, this musket was the first of British muskets to have an internal safety or half-cock position to the ignition system. Its predecessor had a “dog lock” external to the lock plate which held the lock open until tripped by the trigger. Developed in the 1720′s, this musket was used all the way up to the American Revolution. There are a number of versions to this musket.
Additional changes were made to its design in 1742, however the basic lock remained the same. The major change for the 1742 was the introduction of the double bridle to the lock. There is a 1742 version with Seven Years War war-time steel rammer conversion.
While a new model was introduced in 1756, officials were insistent that the new musket would not be issued until the 1742 Long Land Musket stocks with Regiments and in the armories had been depleted. This practice was confirmed when the 77th and 78th Regiments (Montgomery’s and Fraser’s Highlanders) were raised in 1757 for service in North America. Instead of receiving the new model, they received the 1742 model. In addition, the reported replacement by numerous regiments of wooden rammers with steel ones also confirms the universal use of the 1742 model in the French and Indian War.
By the opening of the American Revolution, there was a mixture of Long Land and Short Land Muskets in use by Crown Forces. One historian suggests the Loyalist or Provincial Corps would have received the 1742 Long Land Muskets because that was what was in stores after the French and Indian War.
Most certainly the Long Land pattern would have found its way into the Continental Army as muskets were captured from the British and taken from colonial armories, particularly at the beginning of the war before arms from France started to flow.
When this musket was first manufactured, numerous regiments particularly in Ireland were supplied with steel ramrods. One British Officer, General Hawley, objected to the steel rammers and subsequent rammers were made of wood. Surprisingly at the same time the French Army had decided to switch to the steel ramrod. The regiments eventually switched back to the steel ramrod in the 1750′s when the 1756 version was introduced.
The First Model has a 46 inch .75 caliber barrel made of carbon steel with a threaded breech plug, firing a .72 caliber round ball. The lock has a case-hardened hammer (aka frizzen). The stock was made of walnut. The musket’s total length is 63 inches and weighs 11 pounds without the bayonet. It could be fitted with a 17 inch triangular cross-section bayonet, weighing 1.5 pounds.