The Many Weapons Used During the Revolutionary War

By David Vergun This year marks the nation's 250th birthday. To commemorate this milestone, it is fitting to look back at the weapons that won the American Revolutionary War. The "Brown Bess" muzzle-loading smoothbore musket was the most common weapon used by both the British and Americans forces during the war. With an effective range of 100 yards, the Brown Bess was slow to load, limiting its rate of fire to about three rounds per minute. As a result, much of the fighting involved bayonet charges. In addition to the Brown Bess, other muskets were produced locally by gunsmiths or were imported from France. Besides muskets, rifles were also used by snipers, with a maximum effective range of 300 yards. Like muskets, they also had a low rate of fire because of the lengthy loading process. Similar, flintlock pistols were standard issue for officers, cavalry and sailors. Their effective range was 30 yards. Officers also carried swords or sabers. Beyond handheld weapons, cannons, mortars and howitzers were the three types of artillery used by the Americans, French and British on land and at sea. Cannons could fire solid shot, chain shot, grapeshot and canisters, which could tear large holes in the infantry ranks or destroy fortifications. Their maximum effective range was about 1,000 yards. Mortars fired an exploding shell, called a bomb, in a high trajectory. The bombs flew over embankments and exploded while still airborne, raining shrapnel over the enemy. The maximum effective range was about 750 yards. Howitzers blended features of cannons and mortars. Mounted on field carriages, they could fire both bombs and cannonballs at a flat or high trajectory, offering versatility on the battlefield. The maximum effective range was about 750 yards. The size of the mortar, cannon or howitzer was designated by the width of the bore in inches. The sizes used included 3-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 13-, 16- and 24-pounders. Tomahawks and knives were the favorite weapons of Native Americans during the war, with tribes fighting for both sides.