✅ SOLVED Flintlock plate

[ncsuwolf]

Dug this ~ 3 years ago near Richmond va. It is missing the top jaw, but otherwise seems to be in pretty decent shape. Any insight into maker/origin/date would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[The Rebel]

Very nice. Give it an overnight soak in white vinegar or molasses to remove some of the crud.

 

[Tony in SC]

Dug this ~ 3 years ago near Richmond va. It is missing the top jaw, but otherwise seems to be in pretty decent shape. Any insight into maker/origin/date would be greatly appreciated.

It's a flintlock In the first pic you have the frizzen on the bottom. Great find!!

 

[ncsuwolf]

Very nice. Give it an overnight soak in white vinegar or molasses to remove some of the crud.

It’s already been run through electrolysis

 

[BAW]

The hammer is of the 'double-neck' type used by the French, rather than the 'gooseneck' style used by the British. French and French style muskets would have been uncommon in Virginia before 1777, but after that became the type most used by American forces during the revolution. Double-necked hammers were also used on US -produced military muskets from 1795 until the end of production about 1841.

 

[ncsuwolf]

The hammer is of the 'double-neck' type used by the French, rather than the 'gooseneck' style used by the British. French and French style muskets would have been uncommon in Virginia before 1777, but after that became the type most used by American forces during the revolution. Double-necked hammers were also used on US -produced military muskets from 1795 until the end of production about 1841.

Thank you very much for the insight. You may be more correct than you know….i am in the middle of one of the original Huguenot settlements (churches dating to the mid/late 1600s). French actually makes sense for here.

 

[ncsuwolf]

The hammer is of the 'double-neck' type used by the French, rather than the 'gooseneck' style used by the British. French and French style muskets would have been uncommon in Virginia before 1777, but after that became the type most used by American forces during the revolution. Double-necked hammers were also used on US -produced military muskets from 1795 until the end of production about

Thank you very much for the insight. You may be more correct than you know….i am in the middle of one of the original Huguenot settlements (churches dating to the mid/late 1600s). French actually makes sense for here.

For additional info, it was found in what I think was a blacksmith shop. So assuming this was cast aside as a transition to percussion cap

 

[Glen's Loyalists]

Very nice. Give it an overnight soak in white vinegar or molasses to remove some of the crud.

I have never heard of soaking in molasses, does that work? Are there any advantages over vinegar?

 

[releventchair]

Respectfully folks... The lock pictured appears to be a Doglock.
Look closely in the first picture with the vertical tape measure with it's end at the rear of the hammer, for the pivoting dog/ hook..

Doglocks predated flintlocks which predated percussion.
(Dog lock is a flintlock but before common flintlocks..)

Don't hold me to it , but a doglock in the early to mid 1600's would fit just right in a crowd back then. And fits the context of the recovery site very well.

 

[ncsuwolf]

Respectfully folks... The lock pictured appears to be a Doglock.
Look closely in the first picture with the vertical tape measure with it's end at the rear of the hammer, for the pivoting dog/ hook..

Doglocks predated flintlocks which predated percussion.
(Dog lock is a flintlock but before common flintlocks..)

Don't hold me to it , but a doglock in the early to mid 1600's would fit just right in a crowd back then. And fits the context of the recovery site very well.

Respectfully folks... The lock pictured appears to be a Doglock.
Look closely in the first picture with the vertical tape measure with it's end at the rear of the hammer, for the pivoting dog/ hook..

Doglocks predated flintlocks which predated percussion.
(Dog lock is a flintlock but before common flintlocks..)

Don't hold me to it , but a doglock in the early to mid 1600's would fit just right in a crowd back then. And fits the context of the recovery site very well.

Thank you for the input. This area has settlements dating to mid 1600s, so not out of realm of possibility.

 

[pepperj]

I have never heard of soaking in molasses, does that work? Are there any advantages over vinegar?

In some restoration molasses is used as it's just not as aggressive.