43rd Regiment of Foot Battalion Coy Marching at Support, 1780

This soldier carries the standard weapon of the British Army during the Clash of Empires period, often called a “Brown Bess.” This muzzle loading single shot flintlock musket weighed just over 10 pounds unloaded, without a leather sling or a bayonet fixed. Although the soldier often marched with the musket nearly vertical on the left shoulder, several other positions were allowed to ease the burden. One of these positions was the “support” where the musket was supported in the bend of the left arm. A second position, sometimes referred to as “maximum support,” allowed the soldier to also grasp the musket with the right hand at the neck of the stock immediately behind the lock. This second position offered additional stability and was often used when traversing uneven ground.