Warrior's small arms and the percussion-cap transition

Would HMS Warrior have carried flintlock muskets in 1860?

Despite percussion caps being standard by 1860, Warrior probably received at least some flintlock Brown Bess muskets because enough newer weapons were unavailable and a uniform display was wanted.

A modern warship commissioned in 1860 would normally be expected to use percussion-cap weapons rather than obsolete flintlocks. Warrior probably received at least a significant number of Sea Service-pattern Brown Bess muskets because enough newer weapons were unavailable when she entered service. Uniform appearance mattered aboard an impressive new ship, and most visitors could not distinguish the weapon patterns even if specialists understood the expedient. The arms displayed aboard today may instead be later Snider breech-loaders, so the museum presentation need not reproduce every detail of the 1860 issue. Identifying the weapons therefore requires separating original equipment, temporary substitutions, and later interpretation.