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2006.81.6

Gun-flint

2006.81.6

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Collection type
Object
Description
Gun-flint
Cultural groups
English
Date / Period
Date made: 1948
Date collected
After 1948
Acquisition information
Found unentered: 2006
Materials and processes
Material Flint Stone
Dimensions
Width: max 20 mm, Length: max 25 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 2006.81.6
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

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