- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Gun-flint of Long Dane type. [El.B 03/12/2007]
- Geographical reference
- England Suffolk Brandon
- Cultural groups
- English
- Person
- Maker Victor Robert Edwards
- Field collector Francis Howe Seymour Knowles
- PRM source Francis Howe Seymour Knowles
- Date / Period
- Date made: 11/1948
- Date collected
- By 1949
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1949
- Materials and processes
- Material Flint Stone, Process Flaked
- Dimensions
- Length: max 39 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1949.5.34.4
- Research and responses
OED online: Gun flint: [Flint] 2. a. This stone, or a fragment of it, with reference to its property of giving off sparks when struck with iron or steel. flint and steel: an apparatus consisting of a piece of each of these substances used for procuring fire by the ignition of tinder, touchwood, etc. [AP 02/10/2006]
In the Knowles Manuscripts there is correspondence between Victor R Edwards and Francis Knowles, about sending flints to Knowles, as well as other information on flint knapping and the Brandon quarry. These letters have not yet been catalogued but can be found in Box 1 Bundle 1.F [CB 10/11/2009]
In the Knowles papers there is also correspondence between AS Barnes and FHS Knowles. In a letter dated 12 December 1948 Barnes wrote to Knowles "[I] was delighted to learn of your generous gifts to the PR to fill the gaps in the Gunflint technique" (Knowles box 2 bundle IIIG 12 December 1948). In the same bundle of letters there was also slightly earlier correspondence which spoke of trying to get Victor Edwards to make some specimens. It may be that these references are related to these objects. [CB 9/12/2009]
Search terms: Firearm Weapon, Technique, Firearm Accessory, Gun-flint