"What type of gun would my character have carried at such battles as Lexington and Concord?"
Since we recreate the early battles of the war, there would have been a variety of styles on the field. This is especially true of the militia units, since each man was to provide himself with a weapon and he might bring whatever he had, rather than purchase a musket specific to military use.
Since there is no primary document that shows there were rifles at Lexington and Concord, we restrict ourselves to smoothbored guns appropriate to the period. Guns from earlier parts of the 18th century would be acceptable because many people would have inherited guns, or simply be old enough to own a 20 or 30 year old gun of some description. Something they carried during the French and Indian War perhaps.
A common gun would have been a fowling piece. This was because they were common and far less expensive than a comparable rifle. A farmer would have had such a gun because it was highly versatile, being able to shoot solid shot (for deer or indians) or bird shot for general hunting of small game. These guns ranged from very plain to somewhat ornate, depending on the purse of the man buying it. They would have been a common sight in the houses of the time, much as many people still have Granddad's old shotgun around for home protection.
There are several styles of fowler, the two primary ones are the English style and the French style. The English style has a rather straight comb on the stock. Since we are an English colony, it would make sense that this style would have been common. The French style has a pronounced curve to the comb which many people find attractive. These too would have been something available to the inhabitants of New England, especially in the form of older guns.
The caliber of most of these guns is something around .62 (the equivalent of a modern 20 gage). Remember that standardization was far less common during this period, especially for guns that were made for individuals rather than for military contracts, such as muskets. Most modern reproductions of fowling pieces come in a .62 caliber.
The musket was a military weapon, capable of being fitted with a bayonet. They tend to be heavier and of larger caliber than the fowling piece. This makes sense when you consider the extreme use these weapons had to endure. Most battles involved getting off a few shots, then closing with the bayonet. Having a gun that could be used as a club without worrying about breakage was important. So by comparison to fowlers, muskets can look a bit blocky and heavy. They are, however, quite appropriate for our representations.
Several types of musket were around at the beginning of the revolution. The Long Land, Charleville, and the Short Pattern.
-----More to come!-----
