Musket
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1665 - circa 1675
Materials
Iron, Wood
Measurements
1475 mm x 60 mm x 200 m
Order this imageCollection
Dunster Castle, Somerset
NT 725972.9
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; the lock missing. Attached label reads: No 2. Flintlock butt broken off. Lock missing. Rod in place. 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 breech with a decorative raised rear sight. Retained to the stock by 3 barrel pins. Retaining its original wooden ramrod (the forward end missing). Barrel length: 110.8cm Calibre: 20mm Wooden full stock with French-form butt; the forestock damaged. The butt stamped each side with the initials FL. Iron furniture comprising; ½ size buttplate, bow-shaped trigger guard with spear-shaped finial and 1 ramrod pipe (missing). Straight form trigger. The lock missing. The profile of the lock recess indicates that the missing lock was an English Lock (Type 2 with lateral sear) flintlock of similar form and construction to other Dunster Armoury pieces. Retained to the stock by 2 sidenails (missing). Overall length of the musket: 148cm 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
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.