Date:1800
Description:
This is a very long (barrel 56 1/2 inches) muzzle-loading, flintlock musket.
It had been thought that this weapon may have been a professional wildfowler's punt gun but the calibre is too small and the form and style of the barrel are Eastern rather than English. The clue to the origin of the weapon lies in the shape and style of the barrel. Although the 'octagon-to-round' shape is typically English, it was extensively copied by Indian gunsmiths. In addition, the strange reinforced muzzle is typical. The excessively wide cross-section at the breech is also characteristic of Indian weapons, presumably to guarantee strength due to inferior iron or methods of manufacture. There are no proof marks - even cheap trade-muskets for export had to be sent for proof. The shaping of the stock is superficially English but of poor quality and the trigger-guard is sheet metal with no inletting into the stock.
Internally, the gun has been repaired with replacement screws being used. There is no buttplate, although the butt may have been shortened. There is no sideplate or side-nail cups.
The size and shape of this weapon closely resembles a British 'wall-piece' or rampart-gun of the c.1800 period. The gun was a scaled up version of the British Brown Bess military musket. These weapons were used to fire on would be attackers whose own weapons were out of range, causing disruption or halt to an attack.
The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.
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Donor ref: LEAMG : M702.1923 (71/20962)
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