Potzdam Musket 1723

Potzdam Musket 1723
Type Musket
Place of origin Kingdom of Prussia
Service history
In service Prussian Army 1723–1815.[1]
Used by Kingdom of Prussia and other principalities throughout the Holy Roman Empire, British Empire, United States
Wars First Silesian War, Austrian War of Succession, Second Silesian War, Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War), First Partition of Poland, American War of Independence, War of the Bavarian Succession, French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, War of the First Coalition, War of the Fourth Coalition, War of the Sixth Coalition, War of the Seventh Coalition
Production history
Designed 1723
Produced 1723–????
Number built ?
Variants Potzdam Musket 1723, M1723/M1740
Specifications
Weight 9.74 pounds (4.42 kg)
Length 56.45 inches (1,434 mm)
Barrel length 45.27 inches (1,150 mm)
Cartridge 0.69 inches (17.5 mm), undersized musket ball to reduce the effects of powder fouling
Caliber 0.75 inches (19 mm)
Action Flintlock
Rate of fire User dependent; usually 3 to 4 rounds a minute
Muzzle velocity Variable
Effective firing range 100–200 yards, 50 to 75 in reality
Feed system Muzzle-loaded

The Potzdam Musket 1723 or M1723/M1740 was the first standard firearm of the German armed forces. It was the rival of the Charleville musket (1717) of France and the Brown Bess (1722) of Great Britain and later the M1752 Musket of Spain.

Origin of the Name

Potsdam, just outside Berlin, had been Frederick the Great of Prussia's favorite place of residence as well as the city where the musket was made, hence the name.[2]

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 standard German-made musket, and the 1740 model further solidified Potzdam as the key arsenal for Germany. The muskets were widely used by the Prussians and soldiers of the various German principalities in the 18th century. British-hired Hessian troops as well as troops from other German principalities in the revolting thirteen British colonies in America also used the muskets against rebels.[3]

Though the M1723/M1740 eventually gave way for the Potzdam Musket 1809, it was still in use by Prussian soldiers at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and beyhond.[4] In the norwegian shdchidouldsh

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket19.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket19.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MP1740.SHTML
  4. ↑ http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket19.htm
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