All, 
Did not see the entire e-mail trail, but thought this may be of some help. 


All Long Lands have an elongated, "stepped" butt plate regardless of model or period within the 18th-century. That generally is one of the diagnostic features of this weapon type. 


One of the best recent studies/sources is De Witt Bailey's Pattern Dates for British Ordnance Small Arms, 1718-1783 (1997) . A publication that illustrates good examples the stock furniture on intact weapons is R. R. Gale's "A Soldier-Like Way": The Material Culture of the British Infantry, 1751-1768 (2007) . 


In terms of dating for the archaeological context, bear in mind that the Long Land musket continued in use well through the American War for Independence. American units would certainly have used them, and some British regiments, such as the Brigade of Guards, actually turned in their newer model( Short Land Pattern) and drew the older Long Lands during their American service. 


Chuck Fithian 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Carlson-Drexler" <[log in to unmask]> 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 10:11:31 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: Identification/Dating help: Gun hardware and Pip e Maker’s Mark 

Chalk one up to drunken fingers. It is, indeed, the Brown Bess. 

On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 8:48 PM, David Parkhill 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Carl: 
> No, I have not. I did find a site on Yahoo Search that shows a picture of a 
> Brown Bess, (colonial date) that seems to have the type of Butt plate that 
> was shown. Where may I find the Brown Bass examples you refer to? This is 
> interesting! 
> 
> Thanks for your re[ply. 
> DP 
> 
> 
> 
> At 03:26 PM 12/2/2009, you wrote: 
>> 
>> Have you looked at the Brown Bass pattern 1730/1742 Long Land musket? 
>> These two models used the stepped butt plate. 
>> 
>> Carl 
> 



-- 
Carl G. Carlson-Drexler, MA (ABD) 
Department of Anthropology 
College of William and Mary 
Williamsburg, VA 23187