Flintlock musket
Mary Tough (fl.1690-1710)
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1690 - circa 1710
Materials
iron, wood, brass
Measurements
length 1408 mm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Dyrham, Gloucestershire
NT 452105.1
Summary
Gun; English flintlock musket, c1690 - c1710
Full description
Military flintlock musket, English, c1690-1700. The barrel bears the makers mark MT, probably Mary Tough, gunmaker and contractor to the Ordnance 1702 - 1715. Mary Tough, widow of gunmaker John Tough, continued the business of her husband Robert Tough, who died in 1702. The musket is unusual as the stock has been painted or stained to represent burr wood, which was fashionable for civilian guns at this period. Iron barrel, formed in 2 stages, octagonal at the breech, then round to the muzzle, separated by a turned moulding. The muzzle has a blade fore-sight. The breech is stamped with London Gunmakers Company proof marks and the makers mark, MT under a crown. The barrel is retained to the stock by 3 barrel pins. The ramrod is missing. Length: 107.4cm Calibre: 20mm Wooden full stock with heavy form butt, the wood stained overall to represent burr wood. Brass furniture comprising; tacked on butt plate, trigger guard with blob finial. The ramrod pipes (2) are missing. There is a scroll tip trigger. Flintlock with a large flat lockplate. It has a facetted flashpan and a wide, square top frizzen. The dog-catch is present but the cock is missing. The lock is retained to the stock by 3 sidenails (1 missing). Overall length:146.9cm References Brian Godwin, “17th Century Muskets at Dyrham Park”, Canadian Arms Collecting Journal, Bloomfield, Canada, Vol.34, No.4, 1998
Provenance
Indigenous collection purchased by Ministry of Works in 1956 and given to National Trust in 1961.
Marks and inscriptions
Barrel,breech, left side: MT under a crown Barrel,breech, left side: GP and V (London Gunmakers Company proof marks)
Makers and roles
Mary Tough (fl.1690-1710), gunsmith
References
Blackmore, 1986: Howard Blackmore: A Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850