In honor of the recent July 4th holiday, I decided to take a look at some of the coolest and most influential firearms of the American Revolution. Some of these were used by the British, others were used by the Americans, some were used by both. However, all of these firearms paved the road for what we have today.
A Little Background
Before we get into things, I want to take a moment to cover some specifics in regards to the types of firearms featured — the rifle and the musket. The design differences come down to how the weapons were designed to be used, which primarily relates to volume of fire and engagement distance.
The musket was designed for close engagements (within 100 yards, which is being generous). Muskets are smooth-bore firearms designed for volley fire. When fired in conjunction with many other muskets, it increased the hit probability. Muskets were heavier and featured a bayonet mount for edged combat. They typically fired a paper cartridge that was preloaded with black powder and a lead ball. This, combined with the smooth bore, made for faster reload speeds. A huge advantage during battle.
The rifle was originally a hunting weapon design, therefore it was lighter weight, as it was meant to be carried longer distances. The rifle gets its name from the spiral grooves cut inside the barrel, or “rifling.” These grooves create a spin on the projectile for increased accuracy out to farther distances. However, rifles were slower to reload, as the patch, powder, and ball were all separate components.
Musket:
- Close engagements
- Heavier, with bayonet mount
- Smooth bore, faster reload, volley fire
- Typically use a paper cartridge preloaded with powder and ball
Rifle:
- Lighter to be carried distance, hunting weapon design
- More accurate out to longer ranges
- Spiral grooved “rifled” barrel
- Slower reloads — patch, powder, ball all separate
American Long Rifle
Let’s kick things off with the classic American Long Rifle. Also known as the “Kentucky Rifle,” this muzzle loading long rifle played the role of a crude sniper rifle during the American Revolution. The Long Rifle was accurate out to 200 yards, twice the typical range of standard muskets.
The drawback to the American Long Rifle was that it was more difficult to load due to the ammunition design being three separate components. Additionally, the rifling grooves could foul, causing degradation in accuracy. To keep it running smoothly, it required more cleaning and maintenance. Because of this, it was typically used for select targets, rather than volley fire. Soldiers needed to make each shot count…
Pattern 1776 Infantry Rifle
Up next is one of the most famous Revolutionary War firearms, despite only 1,000 being produced. The Pattern 1776 Infantry Rifle was German made for the British Royal Army to compete with the American Long rifle (both being based on the German Jäger rifle). With a 300-yard range (three times the typical musket) it was accurate out to a good 100 yards more than the American Long Rifle. It featured a hook-breech action and fired a .62 caliber projectile out of a 30-inch octagonal barrel. This is by far the rarest firearm on this list, with less than 10 being known as of today.
Charleville Musket
Commonly carried among the French Army, the Charleville Musket got its name from the geographic location of the manufacturing armory. The firearm utilized a flintlock clocking action, .69 caliber projectile, and featured a smooth bore barrel that was a little longer than typical, but no more accurate. It had a 100-yard effective range like average musket options. However, the Charleville Musket gained popularity among the American Army due to its availability, size, and adjustable bayonet. Due to the smaller caliber, the rifle was lighter weight and a bit easier to maneuver. Sometimes it’s better to arm more with less, than it is to arm less with more.
Ferguson Rifle
This next firearm could have changed the outcome of the Revolutionary War. The Ferguson Rifle featured an innovative firing mechanism that allowed the trigger guard to open the breech in one revolution, opposed to the 11 revolutions required by alternatives. This incredible mechanism not only made reloading that much faster, it also made the rifle more accurate. Because of this, it was the first breech-loading design adopted by any military.
Cost was the limiting factor here. This fancy loading system was expensive and time consuming to produce. Therefore, the rifle primarily made its way into the hands of generals and other high-ranking military officials. If these were in the hands of more troops on the front lines, on either side, they would have likely pushed the effort in one direction or another.
Brown Bess Bayonet
Finally, the most popular firearm of the Revolutionary War, the Brown Bess. This muzzle-loading, smooth-bore, flintlock musket was the standard issue infantry rifle of the British Royal Army. The Brown Bess was one of the most popular options for the Continental Army as well. The later “Bayonet” version was something akin to an upgraded tactical model. It featured an easily attached bayonet, which was heavily used in combat at the time. The .75 caliber musket was often used with a smaller .6 caliber ball so it would drop in faster, allowing for quicker reload speeds. In all likelihood, if you were on the battlefield at the time and not carrying a Brown Bess, the person next to you was.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the top five guns of 1776. All of these firearms helped pave the road for our current guns and liberties. It’s important we take a moment to thank the people who stood — and stand — up for what they believed in and defend our rights today.
To the author: The British Army is NOT a “Royal” Army. This is because at the end of the Parliamentary “Civil War” when the Monarchy was restored, one requirement from Parliament was that the Army would be a professional, permeant body that answered to the Parliament with the advice and consent from the Monarch. This was done to prevent a repeat of the bloody Civil War.
The Navy, Marines, and Air Force are all “Royal” as they are “technically” commanded by the Crown, but the Army is purposely separate.
As to the so-called “Kentucky” rifle, they were produced primarily in Lancaster County, PA, and surrounding counties. They have been misnamed Kentucky rifles because Daniel Boone (originally from Chester County, PA) right next door to Lancaster, County carried his Pennsylvania rifle with him when he explored what later became Kentucky. Rifles later manufactured in Kentucky to the Pennsylvania style were made by craftsmen formerly from the “Rifle Works” in Lancaster, PA who were invited to come to Kentucky by Daniel Boone.
The Kentucky Rifle in all it’s various forms in the hands of Frontier Riflemen is my favorite. Countless stories of this weapon in the hands of men who depended on it for feeding and protecting their families on the Frontier day in day out! Their accuracy and courage in my Area Piedmont Of S.C., NC is legendary and turned the tide of battle time and again.
The gun haters, need to remember that they would not enjoy their freedoms without the individual citizen that protect them with a gun. The draft dodgers now want to disarm those that served.
I believe there is a misrepresentation where the “Ferguson Rifle” is confused with a “Ferguson Pattern Rifle”
There were 100 Ferguson Rifles built specifically to equip a company of Light Infantry Riflemen under the command of Ferguson.
Ferguson and his rifles have an interesting history. Major Ferguson and his rifles went South were he assumed command of Loyalists.
I believe there are 6 Ferguson Rifles known to exist. I have seen 2 and having the privilege of handling one.
One is on didplay at the Brandywine Battlefield Museum, the other held by the Smithsonian.
The legend suggests there may be unrecognized Ferguson Rifles in the mountains of the Carolinas. Estimated value of such a discovery would be approximately $4million.
The Pennsylvania Rifle is my favorite.
I have a 1798 Robert McCormick musket that was government issued and an 1824 Springfield. Both are in really great shape. It’s cool to have some history.
Well there’s a lot of things I’d like to say but it would just be way too long. Shooting black powder rifles and pistols is a great way to spend range day. And a better way to spend that range day is doing it with a rifle you built your self. Either from scratch or from one of the kits that are offered, The history of these great what I call first guns will keep you busy with learning and research for a lifetime. Thank you CTD For discussing this grade history.
Recently I took an old Thompson Grey Hawk, 54 cal to the range. A Grey Hawk could be described as a Bull Barrel Carbine, as it is heavy, and as its name implies, a dull SS barrel (gray) in a black (hawk) polymer stock, in Cap & Ball configuration. After firing a few rounds, the RSO (about 40 ish) came up and asked me what it was? I replied it is a black powder rifle, and asked if he had ever shot one? He said he had never even seen a black powder gun before. So I said watch, and take note: Powder-Patch-Ball (PPB) alway in that order, then add the primer cap. I let him shoot it, and informed him to have it completely aimed, BEFORE touching the trigger, which is like 0.7# pull. After the smoke cleared you could see that ear to ear grin. Then I let him do the PPB by himself. He wanted to know more. I think he may have gotten hooked, line and sinker, oh wait, that is a different subject.
I first learned of the Ferguson Rifle in Louis L’Amour’s book of the same name. When I was touring theTower of London, I was looking forward to seeing one in the arms museum there; unfortunately it was removed from display temporarily for some reason. BTW, I’ve visited Kings Mountain Battlefield where the inventor, Major Patrick Ferguson, was killed.
4th of July, is just another day on the calendar. INDEPENDENCE DAY however, is a holiday celebrated also on the 4th of July, AND is brought to you by CITIZENS WITH GUNS! Anyone in the industry should be promoting this fact. On a lighter side, black powder arms are a hoot to shoot.