Musket
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1665 - circa 1675
Materials
Iron, Wood
Measurements
1540 x 50 x 150 mm
Order this imageCollection
Dunster Castle, Somerset
NT 725972.10
Summary
Rare English-Lock flintlock musket, English, c1665-75
Full description
A rare English-Lock flintlock musket, English, c1665-75, the barrel and stock stamped with the ownership mark of Francis Luttrell. Attached label reads : No 1. Blacked wood. Missing lock. Horizontal scoring on butt. Part of the 17th century Luttrell Armoury and described in the 1705 inventory as one of "43 Musquetts in Dunster Castle". It is thought that the Armoury was assembled in the 1670s by Francis Luttrell (1659 -1690) who formed a Militia and took part in repelling the invasion by James, Duke of Monmouth in 1685. Iron barrel, formed in 2 stages, octagonal at the breech, then round to the muzzle, separated by a turned moulding. The breech with decorative chiselled banding and stamped on the top flat with the initials FL, together with an unidentified mark (possibly a crowned G). The muzzle with a bead fore-sight; the rear sight is missing. Retained to the stock by 3 barrel pins (1 missing). Wooden ramrod (the tip missing). Barrel length: 116.5cm Calibre: 20mm Wooden full stock, the French-form butt of 2-piece construction. Stamped with the initials FL on either side of the butt. The fore-stock becomes V-shaped just forward of the lock area. Iron furniture comprising; bow-shaped trigger guard with a spear-shaped finial, and 1 ramrod pipe (damaged). A curved trigger is suspended from a pin inserted above the rear of the lock recess. Lock: Missing. The profile of the lock recess confirms that the missing lock is a English Lock (Type 2 with lateral sear) flintlock of similar form and construction to others in the Dunster Armoury. Overall length of musket: 153.5cm References Brian Godwin, “The Armoury at Dunster Castle”, 14th Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue, London 1997 Brian Godwin, “Dunster Castle – The Armoury Revisited”, London Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue, Spring 2008
Marks and inscriptions
Top of barrel: initials FL, together with an unidentified mark (possibly a crowned G) Each side of butt: initials FL