1949.5.31

Collection type

Object

Description

Gun-flint with short retouching on all edges. [MJD 11/08/2009]

Geographical reference

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Europe > Northern Europe > United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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

Width: max 18 mm, Length: max 25 mm, Thick: max 7 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1949.5.31

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: Technique, Firearm Weapon, Firearm Accessory, Gun-flint, Flake