A Fusil is a shortened flintlock musket originally carried by special troops whose mission was to guard artillery pieces. In the early 1600′s, artillery was still a contract operation. Enterprising cannoneers contracted with a king or general to fight for specified time periods or battles. Artillery men would often pack up and depart the battlefield if it appeared their side was losing and they faced capture. Men carrying fusils or “Fusiliers” were assigned to protect the artillerymen both from the enemy and from possibly losing their courage and running!
In the 1770′s, this weapon was issued by the Crown to Serjeants in the British Army. Its lighter weight and shorter length made it easier to control and maintain on campaign and in close battle. King George III personally ordered that Serjeants of his Guard regiments going to America carry this weapon, as he saw it a more practical armament. It loads and fires in exactly the same way as a full size musket. The Crown ordered these from various gunsmiths all around England and many maker’s examples are known today. Officers also carried Fusils, however they were privately purchased.
The Fusil has a 37.5 inch .66 caliber barrel made of carbon steel with a threaded breech plug, firing a .65 caliber round ball. The lock has the same a case-hardened hammer (aka frizzen) as the Brown Bess and is the stock is similarly made of walnut. The musket’s total length is just over 54 inches and weighs 7.5 pounds without the bayonet. It could be fitted with a bayonet.