Bess front bayo block

Dave.S

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Hi just got a Repro 2nd pattern Bess but the front bayo block has been filed into a sight.Can it be repaired?Are they silver soldered on?Im also looking for a trigger guard and sling swivels.Any help would be great cheers.Dave.
 
I'm guessing you have a Japanese Miroku Bess with 42" barrel.

They came new with the flattened trigger guard. The Japanese received a musket that received a ding in transit and assumed that's how they were suppposed to be. They never had sling swivels.

That is the highest quality Brown Bess ever made...you have a very quality piece there.
I absolutely love the Japanese cherry wood!

I've chosen to leave mine alone, no holes drilled for sling swivels etc.

You can buy repro swivels but not any kind of replacement for the trigger guard that will just install. That would come under the heading of skilled work, and who could or would do it?

The front sight could probably be replaced by a gunsmith, here's what they look like. (save the pics)

There are repro bayonets specifically for the Japanese Bess, the others won't fit right. But bayonets will scratch up the metal finish.


MirokuShortLandBess010Large.jpg


MirokuShortLandBess028Large.jpg


MirokuShortLandBess015Large.jpg
 
I'm guessing you have a Japanese Miroku Bess with 42" barrel.
That is the highest quality Brown Bess ever made...you have a very quality piece there.
I absolutely love the Japanese cherry wood!

The Miroku muskets, Charlevilles and Besses were/are very good for the most part, some of the ones I have seen have very thin barrels or very thick, some are very good but not all pass muster.

I have owned and inspected many Indian, miroku and pedersoli muskets.

Cantoms Miroku bess is a lovely example IMO.

If the o/p has a filed down front "sight" I bet a bayonet will lock on just fine--Finding a bayonet that fits just right is a whole other ball game
 
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