POST MEDIEVAL TOY

1600

A copper-alloy miniature toy matchlock musket. The toy has been cast in one piece and has a 'fishtail' butt, faceted barrel (hollow), open pan and incomplete rectangular trigger guard. on the right face of the barrel nearest the pan is a cast vertical ridge. The left side of the barrel is broken open, possibly as a result of a mishap in use.Dimensions: 71.56 m x 22.07 mm x 6.92 mmWeight: 11.12 g.Similar examples are recorded on the database, for example: KENT-4104BA, BH-817DE7, LIN-1F0453, GLO-489057Several 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.