<P> Large numbers of Charleville Model 1763 and 1766 muskets were imported into the United States from France during the American Revolution, due in large part to the influence of Marquis de Lafayette. (6) The Charleville 1766 heavily influenced the design of the Springfield Musket of 1795 . </P> <P> Many muskets were produced locally by various gunsmiths in the colonies, often reusing parts from other weapons . These are known as "Committee of Safety" muskets, as they were funded by the fledgling local government . Because of the need to produce as many weapons as quick as possible, and also out of fear of prosecution by the British government, many of the muskets did not bear a maker's mark . Also, the muskets took a long reloading time so during bayonet charges the Americans were vulnerable to the British . Some were simply marked as property of a state, or "US," U: STATES," or "UNITED STATES ." </P> <P> Long rifles were an American design of the 18th century, produced by individual German gunsmiths in Pennsylvania . Based on the Jäger rifle, long rifles, known as "Pennsylvania Rifles", were used by snipers and light infantry throughout the Revolutionary War . The grooved barrel increased the range and accuracy by spinning a snugly fitted ball, giving an accurate range of 300 yards compared to 100 yards for smoothbore muskets . Drawbacks included the low rate of fire due to the complicated reloading process, the impossibility to fit it with a bayonet, the high cost, and lack of standardization that required extensive training with a particular rifle for a soldier to realize the weapon's full potential . Due to the drawbacks, George Washington argued for a limited role of rifles in the Colonial military, while Congress was more enthusiastic and authorized the raising of several companies of riflemen . Long rifles played a significant part in the battles of Saratoga and New Orleans, where rifleman units picked off officers to disrupt British command and control, but required support by units armed with smoothbore muskets or by artillery to prevent the riflemen from being overrun . </P> <P> The bayonet was a crucial weapon because of the limited range and accuracy and long loading time of the muskets . Bayonets were fixed on the ends of the guns and were a fearsome weapon in hand - to - hand combat in which one or both sides charged the other; with the bayonet leading the charge . The triangular shape of the bayonet created a deep, easily infected puncture wound . Continental Army and militia units, both loyalists and patriots, frequently were not equipped with bayonets . Regular British infantrymen however had a bayonet as part of their standard gear, stored in a side pouch . </P>

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