Database: Brown Bess

Brown Bess is a nickname given to the British Army's flintlock-activated and muzzle-loaded muskets during the expansion of the British Empire. It was used over a hundred years of service and was upgraded many times. The origin of the nickname is uncertain, but some believe it's linked to Elizabeth I of England. The Brown Bess was one of the first weapons to enter the era of standardization. First,t he classification of those rifles was made by referring to the land of use. These were called "land patterns." The British India Companies had their own standard, the "India Pattern," that specified a barrel length and overall weight and length.