Variously known as the Officer's fusil or Light Dragoon Carbine, it is shorter, lighter, and smaller caliber than the full size Brown Bess infantry muskets of the 1756 to 1763 French and Indian War era.. The book Red Coat & Brown Bess by Anthony Darling, explains many of the details of the various models of Brown Bess muskets produced for the British military. On pages 30 and 31 of his book, Mr. Darling notes that, during the Seven Years War, some regiments of British light infantry were “armed with fusils of carbine bore (.65 caliber) with barrels 42 inches in length." other sources list a shorter 36" barrel with a smaller 20 bore. This particular fusil falls with in that category. This smoothbore is unsigned, but assembly is attributed to Larry Zornes. Trigger reach is 13-5/8" to fit today's average size shooter. Weight is 8.5 pounds.

The tapered round musket barrel is 38-1/2" long with the 20 gauge smoothbore a .620" diameter. The stock is cut back as if to accept a socket bayonet, but the front sight is a more traditional fowler front sight rather than a bayonet lug. No rear sight is fitted, so this big smoothbore musket also qualifies for use in the NMLRA's new N. W. Trade Gun match, where round balls are fired at paper targets, and shot is fired at clay birds thrown from a trap. An sturdy steel ramrod is fitted, which was a popular military improvement over the more common wooden ramrod used on First Model Brown Bess Muskets of this era. The ramrod is slightly long for the barrel, and could be trimmed.

Used, the stock has a very few small handling marks. The bore is bright and has been well maintained. The brass furniture was polished bright and has mellowed to a natural patina. The buttplate is slightly convex brass, retained using two steel screws, as on the original. The buttplate resembles those used on better English fowling guns from this era, but is distinctly military in shape. A brass thumb piece decorates the wrist. Antique muskets often have unit names, and sequence numbers engraved on the thumb piece or buttplate comb. Sling swivels are mounted to a boss on the triggerguard, and though a supporting lug in the forend. The brass triggerguard is shaped with Brown Bess style military finials. The stock swells to a bulb shape at the rear ramrod pipe, for secure grip. Lock panels are very simple raised panels. The rear view shows the flat brass officer's fusil style sideplate, inlet.

The Mold & Gun Shop round faced lock is a classic English design with a rounded plate. The flint cock has a few decorative moldings. The lock has been finished to a dark brown. The lock sparks well when combined with a 7/8" wide English gun flint. Fast ignition is assured by stainless steel vent liner, positioned well above the bottom of the pan, centered on the heat of the flash. If your flint longrifle suffers from that infamous slow whoosh-bang ignition delay, study the work of today's best gun makers, and position your vent well centered on the pan, high above the bottom, to serve as a window on the center of the flash.

We recommend simple and attractive musket for the French & Indian War era reenactor or the Revolutionary War volunteer, seeking a suitable gun for militia duty. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.