Musketoon

Musketoon. The stock is possibly made of walnut and is fully stocked to the muzzle with an iron butt plate and iron trigger and trigger guard. It has two ramrod pipes (the ramrod is missing). There is a long iron bar attached to the right side of the stock and sideplate by a lock retaining screw at back and similar screw at front attached to the bar. The stock is flared below the muzzle to accomodate the flared barrel. The lock is a sidelock flintlock with a dog (safety) catch behind the cock. The barrel is iron, part hexagonal and part circular. The calibre is 2in. There is an obscure mark inscribed above the breech on the barrel and another (possibly 'F') inside the trigger guard. The letter 'M' appears twice on the butt - once to the right of the rear finial and again to the left of the trigger itself on a moulding. It is possible that this weapon was intended for sea service. "Blundebusses or musketoons - it is difficult to distinguish between them - with heavy iron or brass flared barrels, were usually issued to the Navy or for some special service or guard duty" (British Military Firearms by H Blackmore pub Jenkins 1961). This example is more likely to be a cavalry weapon. The lock is probably not completely original.

Object Details

ID: AAA2517
Collection: Weapons
Type: Musketoon
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: 18th century
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 120 x 1040 x 40 mm
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