Rights Holder: Somerset County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
GUNFLINT
Unique ID: SOM-9FE8D4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A post-medieval or modern gunflint from a flintlock musket. The flint is broadly rectangular in plan. The ventral surface is smooth and relatively flat; the bulb of percussion is absent. The dorsal face is bevelled on all sides with a flat centre. There is some retouching or chipping to the upper edge on the ventral face. There is a notch to one side and an indent on the dorsal face, probably from being gripped. The flint is a mid- grey colour with paler mottling. It is 20.2mm by 17.2mm by 4.9mm and weighs 2.60 grams.
Notes:
The flintlock was introduced in the middle of the 16th century but it was not until the reign of William III that the flintlock became the main regulation firearm for the British Army. The knapped flint was used within the musket mechanism to produce a spark and would last between 20-25 shots before it had to be replaced (Bond 2004, 163-164).
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1550
Date to: Circa AD 1850
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 20.2 mm
Width: 17.2 mm
Thickness: 4.9 mm
Weight: 2.6 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Wednesday 2nd May 2012
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: SCC reciept 22064
Materials and construction
Primary material: Flint
Manufacture method: Knapped/flaked
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South West (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Somerset (County)
District: South Somerset (District)
To be known as: Hinton St George
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond, C. | 2005 | PAS Guide to the Identification, Assessment and Recording of Lithics | London | The Portable Antiquities Scheme |
Similar objects
Find number: WILT-0736E4
Object type: GUNFLINT
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A post-medieval/modern gunflint from a flintlock musket. The flint is broadly rectangular in plan. The ventral surface is smooth and relativ…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: WILT-73BBC7
Object type: GUNFLINT
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
A post-medieval gun-flint possibly from a flintlock musket. The flint is broadly rectangular in plan and a classic wedge shape. The ventral s…
Workflow: Published
Find number: LVPL-60DC81
Object type: GUNFLINT
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A post-medieval/modern gun-flint from a flintlock musket. The flint is rectangular in plan and cross-section. The flint is mid to dark grey i…
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