Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
TOY
Unique ID: BH-817DE7
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A copper-alloy miniature toy musket of post-Medieval date.
The toy has been cast in one piece and has a 'fishtail' butt, faceted barrel (hollow), open pan and rectangular trigger guard. No trace of decoration can be seen on the corroded surfaces of the piece.
Length: 70.3mm; width: 7.3mm; weight: 14.3g.
Several similar toy muskets were found in excavations in London and were dated to the early 17th century, based on their distinctive design (Forsyth and Egan 2005: 89 - 97). These guns were functioning pieces which, with the addition of gunpowder, would have been capable of firing small projectiles.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1640
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 70.3 mm
Width: 7.3 mm
Weight: 14.3 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 15th September 2013
Rally details.
This object was found at Thesaurus Group at Offley, Hertfordshire, September 2013
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: TLB 2013 - 105
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: North Hertfordshire (District)
Parish or ward: Offley (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TL1324
Four figure Latitude: 51.90309165
Four figure longitude: -0.35892861
1:25K map: TL1324
1:10K map: TL12SW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth, H. with Egan, G. | 2005 | Toys, Trifles and Trinkets: Base Metal Miniatures from London 1200 to 1800 | London | Unicorn Press Ltd |
Similar objects
Find number: DOR-A4DDC2
Object type: TOY
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A copper-alloy miniature toy matchlock musket. The toy has been cast in one piece and has a 'fishtail' butt, faceted barrel (hollow), open pa…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: KENT-4104BA
Object type: TOY
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A Post Medeival copper alloy Toy Gun of 17th Century date. The toy has been cast in one piece and has a 'fishtail' butt, faceted barrel (holl…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: WAW-D4570D
Object type: TOY
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Post Medieval (early 17th century) miniature toy matchlock musket (petronel). The copper alloy toy has been cast in one piece and has a 'fish…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618