Percussion Muskets of the East India Company 1840 to 1851
There were six Patterns of Muskets designated A to F. All had 39 inch smoothbore barrels of 11 gauge (3/4 inch). The designations were used by the East India Company officials and their ordnance people in London, Some are quite rare, others were made in quantity with the predictable effects on the numbers that have survived. The 'historical facts' about these as pushed out by IMA are complete rubbish. These are not Royal Government arms subject to the Pattern designs and regulations of the Board of Ordnance and referring to them as Pattern 1839 or Pattern 1842 and mentioning the great fire in the Ordnance Stores at the Tower of London is all completely irrelevant to these muskets. The Company was normally aware of the Royal Ordnance standards and tended to use similar arms but of better quality and with such refinements as the 'bun nut' cock screws which strengthened the shaft of the tumbler which carried the hammer. The muskets were made mainly by the London Trade although most of the barrels were first rough forged in Birmingham with the basic locks made in the Wolverhampton area by the lock specialists that abounded there. It should be remembered that the lock makers supplied locks without hammers. Fitting hammers was the job of the Percussioners. The making and finishing of the complete muskets was done by Contractors in the same manner as that of the Royal Ordnance but virtually all in the London Trade. All the arms were proofed at the commercial London Proof House and carry its marks. In general it is safe to say that the Company insisted upon higher standards of quality in its specifications and in its inspecting practices than the Royal Government and the resulting arms are of excellent quality.
PATTERN A. 1840. Made from a stock of flintlock parts intended for the last of the flint muskets, the Baker Pattern. This had the rounded lock plate (as opposed to the later flat plate). They were converted in the same manner as the Royal Ordnance Pattern of 1839 with a brazed on nipple lump. They were not fitted with backsights although most had these retro fitted in India. The brass work was the same as the Baker Pattern Common Musket. 5,000 made from these parts in 1840.
PATTERN B. 1840. Made from the same parts as the Pattern A but with the breech end of the barrel shortened to have a complete new percussion breech section screwed on. They were not fitted with backsights although most had these retro fitted in India. Otherwise the same as Pattern A. 5,000 made from these parts in 1840/41.
PATTERN C. 1840-42. Made from flintlock parts from the Baker Pattern Light Infantry Musket with the scroll guard and the flat lock plate. The same screw on chamber breech as the Pattern B. This model had the rear sight fitted from new. 43,500 were made.
PATTERN D. 1841-42. This Pattern differs mainly from the Pattern C by the use of the smaller trigger guard scroll tang of the Two Groove Rifle. The trigger is longer and more curved. This Pattern incorporates a mixture of parts designs from earlier D and later E and F designs, principally in the bayonet springs. 10,000 of these were set up in later in 1842 from the Order of late 1841.
PATTERN E. 1842-45. This Pattern has dispensed with the screw on breech (needed because of the unreliability of the brazed on nipple lumps) as improved technology now permitted the welding of the nipple lump directly to the side of the breech. The nipple lump changes shape to fit the new style lock. The lock is of the new percussion type with the mainspring no longer screwed in at its small end but secured under a lip inside the lock plate. The trigger is hung in a box, part of the trigger plate, instead of on a pin in the wood, and the side plate has disappeared in favour of the later side nail cups. The bayonet spring appears in front of the fore-end cap in the Hanoverian Catch style. 60,700 of these were set up between 1843 and 1845.
PATTERN F. 1844-51. Virtually the same as the Pattern E except for the new Pattern F bayonet catch. These were set up between 1845 and 1851. It is the model most often encountered as 206,500 were made.
There were six Patterns of Muskets designated A to F. All had 39 inch smoothbore barrels of 11 gauge (3/4 inch). The designations were used by the East India Company officials and their ordnance people in London, Some are quite rare, others were made in quantity with the predictable effects on the numbers that have survived. The 'historical facts' about these as pushed out by IMA are complete rubbish. These are not Royal Government arms subject to the Pattern designs and regulations of the Board of Ordnance and referring to them as Pattern 1839 or Pattern 1842 and mentioning the great fire in the Ordnance Stores at the Tower of London is all completely irrelevant to these muskets. The Company was normally aware of the Royal Ordnance standards and tended to use similar arms but of better quality and with such refinements as the 'bun nut' cock screws which strengthened the shaft of the tumbler which carried the hammer. The muskets were made mainly by the London Trade although most of the barrels were first rough forged in Birmingham with the basic locks made in the Wolverhampton area by the lock specialists that abounded there. It should be remembered that the lock makers supplied locks without hammers. Fitting hammers was the job of the Percussioners. The making and finishing of the complete muskets was done by Contractors in the same manner as that of the Royal Ordnance but virtually all in the London Trade. All the arms were proofed at the commercial London Proof House and carry its marks. In general it is safe to say that the Company insisted upon higher standards of quality in its specifications and in its inspecting practices than the Royal Government and the resulting arms are of excellent quality.
PATTERN A. 1840. Made from a stock of flintlock parts intended for the last of the flint muskets, the Baker Pattern. This had the rounded lock plate (as opposed to the later flat plate). They were converted in the same manner as the Royal Ordnance Pattern of 1839 with a brazed on nipple lump. They were not fitted with backsights although most had these retro fitted in India. The brass work was the same as the Baker Pattern Common Musket. 5,000 made from these parts in 1840.
PATTERN B. 1840. Made from the same parts as the Pattern A but with the breech end of the barrel shortened to have a complete new percussion breech section screwed on. They were not fitted with backsights although most had these retro fitted in India. Otherwise the same as Pattern A. 5,000 made from these parts in 1840/41.
PATTERN C. 1840-42. Made from flintlock parts from the Baker Pattern Light Infantry Musket with the scroll guard and the flat lock plate. The same screw on chamber breech as the Pattern B. This model had the rear sight fitted from new. 43,500 were made.
PATTERN D. 1841-42. This Pattern differs mainly from the Pattern C by the use of the smaller trigger guard scroll tang of the Two Groove Rifle. The trigger is longer and more curved. This Pattern incorporates a mixture of parts designs from earlier D and later E and F designs, principally in the bayonet springs. 10,000 of these were set up in later in 1842 from the Order of late 1841.
PATTERN E. 1842-45. This Pattern has dispensed with the screw on breech (needed because of the unreliability of the brazed on nipple lumps) as improved technology now permitted the welding of the nipple lump directly to the side of the breech. The nipple lump changes shape to fit the new style lock. The lock is of the new percussion type with the mainspring no longer screwed in at its small end but secured under a lip inside the lock plate. The trigger is hung in a box, part of the trigger plate, instead of on a pin in the wood, and the side plate has disappeared in favour of the later side nail cups. The bayonet spring appears in front of the fore-end cap in the Hanoverian Catch style. 60,700 of these were set up between 1843 and 1845.
PATTERN F. 1844-51. Virtually the same as the Pattern E except for the new Pattern F bayonet catch. These were set up between 1845 and 1851. It is the model most often encountered as 206,500 were made.
