[Hawg]

If you want a good quality clone of a Brown Bess this one is hard to beat.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Traditional-Rifles-Shotguns%7C/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104641380/Davide-Pedersoli-Brown-Bess-Musket/740533.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshoot ing-black-powder-traditional-rifles-shotguns%2F_%2FN-1100202%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104641380%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bca t104701680&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat1046 41380

They also have decent copies of Civil War rifles.

[HockaLouis]

There is little doubt that Pedersoli makes the cream-of-the-crop in factory repros. I have a couple of 2nd Model Bess' in rotation at any given time and others as well. My main gun for at least the past decade has been a 30+ year old Miroku "Jap" Bess (with a Pedersoli sear fitted now) a Pedersoli 2nd Model Bess I made from their kit as necessary backup with all I do.

Dixie has the assembled Pedersoli on sale for $1,050. For the extra $125 I'd buy that assembled version. Oh, you'll want a sling. And bayonet. They do sell India-made bayos for these but I'd spend the money and get a Pedersoli one too. And food for thought...

Before you "antique" your gun, realize it would have looked new in 1776*!

*By the way, it is technically unlikely this is the gun a Continental Army soldier (and even less so Militia) would have been carrying but is almost all anyone in the US shoots or does living history with, and what they mean, when they say a Bess here today. Much more likely an older 1st Model or Long Land Pattern Bess, or a French Model 1728/46 (which I shoot also -- love the '28 Navy I have) is more historically accurate.

[TDS92A]

You said that it would have to have looked new in 1776. Actually it would have to look old in 1776. I do not think that the muskets used in 1776 were bought new, okay, some were, but not most. What would you say the color of the weapon would be? What was used during that time period to preserve the wood?

Originally Posted by HockaLouis

Before you "antique" your gun, realize it would have looked new in 1776*!

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by TDS92A

You said that it would have to have looked new in 1776. Actually it would have to look old in 1776. I do not think that the muskets used in 1776 were bought new, okay, some were, but not most. What would you say the color of the weapon would be? What was used during that time period to preserve the wood?

Actually guns in use by the British would look better than new. The soldiers were required to keep them clean and highly polished.

[marc29th]

Also the muskets used by the Americans would have been stored in arsenals either here or in France and therefore in very good shape. Personal muskets used by militia might not have been in the best shape but I'm guessing most would have been well taken care of.

[St8LineGunsmith]

your best bet to get a accurate replica of a civil war or revolutionairy war era musket would be www.track of the wolf.com

[TDS92A]

Okay, learned something new, which is always a good thing
Now, does anyone know what was used to protect the wood of the muskets? I am trying for period accurate, so to put Tru-Oil on it would detract from that, yes?

[St8LineGunsmith]

not really because they used oil to protect the metal
I think it was probably a refined whale oil or some other oils derived from animal fat until petroleum was discovered.
I am old school so I use Marvel mystery oil and 3 In 1 a lot of the time
Birchwood Casey and Hoppes are also good oils to use.

they used Lye soap and creek water to clean their muzzleloaders until other types of cleaning solutions and detergents became available

if you are wanting to be traditional just use modern oil and put it in a container specific to the Era.

[marc29th]

Originally Posted by TDS92A

Okay, learned something new, which is always a good thing
Now, does anyone know what was used to protect the wood of the muskets? I am trying for period accurate, so to put Tru-Oil on it would detract from that, yes?

They used cheap olive oil for protecting and cleaning their muskets. And boiling water down the barrel to remove the fouling.

[Hawg]

If you plan on shooting it do not put modern petroleum based oil down the bore without cleaning it out before firing. Not unless you want to turn an easy cleaning job into a PITA.