What's the difference?

[Hanshi]

I hear a lot about the Bess.  What makes it "long land" vs "short land"?  I'd thought about maybe getting one a few years back.

[Keb]

the long land usually means the 1st model. It has a 46" barrel & can have a wood ram rod for starters. The short land is known as 2nd model. It sports a 42" barrel and a steel ram rod. There are other models that fall into the short land model but the 42" barrel is the main clue it's a short land. There were other Bess guns made but those are the usual ones we see being used today by shooters & reenactors. 46" barrel = 1st model (long land) & 42" barrel = 2nd model (short land).

[Hanshi]

Thank you, Keb.  This is the first time I've actually read a good, definitive description of the differences.  When did the "short land" model supplant the "long land" Bess?