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| Prussian Land Pattern Musket Potzdam musket | |
|---|---|
 1740 pattern | |
| Type | long-gun |
| Place of origin | Kingdom of Prussia |
| Service history | |
| In service | Royal Prussian Army (1723–1839) |
| Used by | Prussia Holy Roman Empire British Empire United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Wars | War of the Polish Succession War of the Austrian Succession First Silesian War Second Silesian War Third Silesian War (part of theSeven Years' War theatre) First Partition of Poland American War of Independence War of the Bavarian Succession French Revolutionary Wars Coalition Wars Napoleonic Wars American Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1723 |
| Manufacturer | Potzdam Royal Arsenal Spandau Royal Arsenal |
| Produced | 1723–1839 |
| Variants | Infantry Musket Model 1723 M1723/M1740 M1809 M1809/31 M1831 Cavalry Carbine |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.74 lb (4.42 kg) to 10.75 lb (4.88 kg) |
| Length | 50.61 in (1,285 mm) to 61.61 in (1,565 mm) |
| Barrel length | 34.82 in (884 mm) to 45.82 in (1,164 mm) |
| Cartridge | paper cartridge,solid shot/buck and ball (musket ball undersized to reduce the effects of powderfouling) |
| Calibre | .71 (18.03mm) to .78 (20mm) |
| Barrels | 1 (smoothbore) |
| Action | flintlock percussion lock (conversion) |
| Rate of fire | user-dependent; usually 2 to 3rounds/minute |
| Muzzle velocity | variable |
| Effective firing range | 100 to 200 yd (91 to 183 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 300 yd (274 m)[1] |
| Feed system | muzzle-loaded |
| Sights | fore-sights fore-sights and V-notch |
ThePotzdam musket was the standardinfantry weapon of theRoyal Prussian Army (German:Königlich Preußische Armee) from the 18th century until the military reforms of the 1840s. Four models were produced—in 1723, 1740, 1809 and 1831.[2]
Potzdam, just outsideBerlin, had beenFrederick the Great ofPrussia's favorite place of residence as well as the city where themusket was made, hence the name.[3] While the musket is more correctly called aPrussian infantry musket or aPrussian pattern musket, these muskets later became known as „Potzdam muskets".
After Frederick was crowned in 1740, he ordered the then-current Prussian musket; a version from 1723, for his army. The Potzdam musket had already made a name for itself by being the first standardGerman-madelong-gun, and the 1740 model further solidified Potzdam as the keyarsenal forGermany. The muskets were widely used by thePrussians and soldiers of the various Germanprincipalities in the 18th century. British-hiredHessian troops as well as troops from other German principalities in the revoltingthirteenBritish colonies inAmerica also used the muskets againstrebels.[4]
Asmoothbore musket, the weapon was reasonably accurate to about 100 yards (91 m) againstline infantry. But a musket was preferably used at a much shorter distance than that when dischargeden masse.
Thecalibre of the Potzdam Muskets was between 0.71 (18.034 mm)[5] and 0.7874 inches (20.00 mm)[6]—which was larger than most other major nations' militaryrounds.
Thebarrel length of the Potzdam muskets varied between 884 millimetres (34.8 in)[7][8] and 116 centimetres (46 in) and an overall length between 1,420 millimetres (56 in)[9] and 1,565 millimetres (61.6 in),[10] and weighed between 4.42 kilograms (9.7 lb)[11] and 4.88 kilograms (10.8 lb).[12] Thestock of the Potzdam was usually made ofwalnut. Stress-bearing parts of the Potzdam, such as the barrel, lock plate andfiring mechanism were made of steel andsling-swivels made of iron whilst other furniture pieces such as the butt plate,trigger guard and ramrod pipe were found inbrass.
Many were converted fromflintlock topercussion cap in the mid-19th century.
ThePotzdam Infantry Musket Model 1723 was the first standardlong-gun of the Prussian Army. It was therival of theCharleville musket (1717) ofFrance and the Brown Bess-musket (1722) ofGreat Britain.These were manufactured in .73 calibre—to enable the use of British militarybullets.[13] It had pins to hold the barrel in place and four pipes which held a steelscouring stick with a trumpet shaped end. As with theRoyal Swedish Army, that also clung to pinned barrels (until pattern 1775),[14] the Potzdam musket had fore-sights made of brass, making thebayonet lug's optimal location under the barrel where an 18.50-inch (470 mm)triangular cross-section bayonet could be fitted—its innerdiameter was approximately 0.8543307 inches (21.70000 mm). Moreover, could the weapon's rounded fore-sights be used with a crude rear sight in form of an oblong rounded notch in the barrel peg.
The Potzdam Infantry Model 1723 for the Guard (German:Infanteriegewehr Modell 1723 für die Garde) had a calibre of around 0.78 in (20 mm). The barrel length was 45.82 in (1,164 mm) and an overall length of 61.61 in (1,565 mm), and weighed 10.75 pounds (4.88 kg).
The1740 pattern Potzdam Musket, derived from the earlier 1723 pattern, was produced from 1740 to 1760 and used the samestandardised parts.[15] Themounts were brass, and the barrel was shortened by 11 inches (280 mm).[16] It was supplied to allied German states during- and after theSeven Years' War, and was also manufactured atHerzberg,Wesel,Schmalkalden andSuhl.[17][18]
The 1740 model had a 41-inch (1,000 mm) barrel and an overall length of 50.61417 inches (1,285.600 mm), and weighed less than 9 pounds (4.1 kg).
Though the M1723/M1740 eventually gave way for the Potzdam Infantry Musket Model 1809, it was still in use by Prussian soldiers at theBattle of Waterloo in 1815 and beyond.[19]
TheModel 1809 Prussian Musket, like its predecessor, was assembled at thePotzdam armory during theNapoleonic Wars. It had steel rather than brass barrel bands to reduce costs, and borrowed extensively from the design of the FrenchCharleville Model 1777 Musket. Thehammer (or cock) had a decorative heart-shaped cutout, and thesteel pan had a protective shield to keep thepowder dry in wet weather.[20] The pins were abandoned in favour of three barrel bands. Unusually, the fore-sights were cast into the barrel band rather than the end of the barrel.[21] Even more unusual for a military musket was, that the weapon had a V-notch.
The 1809 model had a 41.25-inch (1,048 mm) barrel and an overall length of 56.45 inches (1,434 mm), and weighed approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kg).[22] The calibre was reduced to .71 (18.034 mm).[23] The barrels were manufactured separately atSpandau, and were brought to Potzdam for finishing and final assembly.[24]
At the Battle of Waterloo, the 1809 pattern Potzdam was the most widespread musket in use byvon Blücher's troops. Due to its largebore, it could fire thecartridges of fallen British and French soldiers, although the smaller French bullets would rattle down the barrel and reduceaccuracy andstopping power.[25]
Thesocket bayonet of the M1809 musket was patterned after thebayonet of the French Charleville musket. Like most other bayonets of the early 19th century, it had a triangular 19.25-inch (489 mm) blade. But it lacked themortise normally used to secure the bayonet over the fore-sights of the musket barrel.[26]
From 1831 to 1839, the Prussians manufactured acaplock conversion[27] of the 1809 Potzdam musket.[28] These weremanufactured not only in Potzdam, but also inDanzig.[29] Then starting in 1841 the musket was gradually replaced by theDreyse needle gun, and most of the oldmuzzleloaders were sold to theAmericans for use in theircivil war.[30] These were issued to theUnion army as late as 1864.[31]