Gun
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1655 - circa 1665
Materials
Wood and metal
Measurements
1630 x 65 x 260 mm
Order this imageCollection
Dunster Castle, Somerset
NT 725972.4
Summary
Rare English-Lock flintlock musket, English, c1655-1665
Full description
A rare English-Lock flintlock musket, English, c1655 - 1665. The barrel stamped with the ownership initials GL (possibly George Luttrell? 1625 – 1655). 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. The iron barrel is formed in 3 stages, being octagonal at the breech, changing to round, then octagonal at the muzzle; each section is separated by a turned moulding. The muzzle has a bead fore-sight; the rear sight is missing. The barrel tang is of tapering form. The breech is stamped with an unidentified S-shaped mark and the initials GL. Retained to the stock by 3 barrel pins. Retaining its original wooden ramrod. Barrel length: 125cm Calibre: 20mm Wooden full stock with French-form butt made from 2 pieces of wood (the lower section perhaps a later replacement). The forestock becomes V-shaped just forward of the trigger guard. Iron furniture comprising; bow-shaped trigger guard of narrow ribbon-like form with a spear-shaped finial, and 1 ramrod pipe. There is also an unusually long ribbon form sideplate from the forward sidenail and extending well beyond the rear sidenail. A curved trigger is suspended from a dome-head pin. English-Lock flintlock (Type 2 with lateral sear) with flat plate and bevelled edges, the tail of the plate with a disc-form finial. Flat form cock with reinforced neck, the lower rear with a V-shape cut for the dog-catch. The frizzen is missing. The frizzen spring has a disc-shaped finial. The pan has a decorative edge and narrows towards its outer edge. Retained to the stock by 2 sidenails. Overall length of musket: 162cm 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: unidentified S-shaped mark and the initials GL
References
Godwin, 2003, Brian Godwin, “The English Flintlock: Its Origins and Development”, (with John Cooper & Michael Spencer) 20th Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue, London 2003.