Images(7)

Infantry Musket

Dateca. 1690

Artist/Maker John Dafte

OriginEngland, London

MediumWalnut, iron, brass and steel

Credit LineGift of Mr. & Mrs. Clay Bedford.

Object number1978-230

DescriptionCommercial infantry musket of classic late 17th c. form, shortened during its period of use and modified to accept a socket bayonet. Octagon to 16-sided to round barrel, with turned rings separating the latter two sections. Round-faced lock engraved with foliage and borders. Plain, stained walnut stock with minimal carving around the barrel tang, lock mortice and sideplate flat. Brass mounts include a buttplate, triggerguard, sideplate and two baluster rammer pipes. Made without a triggerplate.
Label TextBy the last part of the 17th c., British muskets became prettier, and started to exhibit some of the more attractive traits of future military longarms. Stock architecture was now sleek and graceful, and polished brass mounts began to replace the purely functional iron ones found on earlier types. Most importantly, the appearance of a secure “half cock” notch in the lock’s internal mechanism dispensed with the need for a “dog” safety. Freed from many of the functional components previously mounted on the outside of the lockplate, space was now available for engraved embellishment. Dafte’s signed lock, which sports a rounded surface and floral engraving, is amongst the earliest British military longarms to have these features.
InscribedLock engraved "I-DAFTE-" along bottom edge below pan.
MarkingsMarked with London "View" and "Proof" marks, in addition to the partial maker's mark of a coronet over "H (?)."
ProvenanceEx. collections: W. Keith Neal, Clay Bedford

Exhibition(s)