Tower Lock Plate

[RSMorris]

Does anyone know what this lock plate goes to? I am guessing it is late 1700's, to early 1800's based on the "teat" of the tail. it is very similar to a Brown Bess, but I have no idea... Believe it is stamped Gill below Tower on the tail...

 

[Conquerordie]

How long is it? Does it have a Broad Arrow on it? VR marked means after 1837 when Victoria comes to power. But the British were switching to percussion guns around 1840s for the military. So it would be one of the last models of flintlocks the British govt. Made.

 

[gary]

Brown Bess.
Lot of extra holes so I'd imagine that it was used for something else too.

 

[RSMorris]

How long is it? Does it have a Broad Arrow on it? VR marked means after 1837 when Victoria comes to power. But the British were switching to percussion guns around 1840s for the military. So it would be one of the last models of flintlocks the British govt. Made.

I bought it but haven't received it yet. It says it is 5 3/8" long

 

[RSMorris]

How long is it? Does it have a Broad Arrow on it? VR marked means after 1837 when Victoria comes to power. But the British were switching to percussion guns around 1840s for the military. So it would be one of the last models of flintlocks the British govt. Made.

What you see is what I see. I don't have it in my hands yet. Probably sometime next week or next June knowing how the mail is now....

 

[RSMorris]

How long is it? Does it have a Broad Arrow on it? VR marked means after 1837 when Victoria comes to power. But the British were switching to percussion guns around 1840s for the military. So it would be one of the last models of flintlocks the British govt. Made.

here is the reverse. Definitely needs cleaning up to see what is hiding under all the grunge.

 

[Conquerordie]

Might be a pistol at that size. Too small for muskets

 

[RSMorris]

Might be a pistol at that size. Too small for muskets

I am comparing it to this image. Looks about the same to me.... but like I said, I'm no expert on these. I don't see the broad arrow where it is on the bottom pic but the shadow may be hiding it, if it even has one.

 

[bayonet]

If it says Gill (which I can't make out clearly) then it is probably Robert Gill 1800-1832. He made pistols and it is most likely belonging to a pistol due to it's short length. Made at the approaching end of the flintlock period.

 

[RSMorris]

If it says Gill (which I can't make out clearly) then it is probably Robert Gill 1800-1832. He made pistols and it is most likely belonging to a pistol due to it's short length. Made at the approaching end of the flintlock period.

Hopefully when it comes in next week will be able to tell a lot more about it. i know the pics here crappy.

 

[RSMorris]

I did finally find a Gill stamped Bess. Only other one I have seen so far. But my lock appears to have an initial before the G in Gill.

 

[Conquerordie]

My guess, I think it's a New Land Pattern pistol lock, but I haven't found the measurements of the lock yet. They were made right up until the Brits went to percussion. Made by all sorts of makers.

 

[RSMorris]

After working with the image, I now believe it is H.Gill below Tower if that helps at all. I did find an auction at Christies that featured a Victorian New Land Pattern Pistol by H. Gills circa 1840 - 1850, but of course there were no images.

 

[RSMorris]

I have finally been able to id this lock plate thanks to a kind fella at the British Military Forums.
From Robert Brooker's book, British Military Pistols. There is an image in the book of a pistol with this same lockplate, even with the Tower over H.Gill. Since it is in a book , its probably copyrighted so I won't post it here

It is a late 1830's, Commercial New Land Pattern Pistol for Yeomanry Troops.
What are Yeomanry troops you ask.....
From wiki:
During the first half of the nineteenth century, Yeomanry Regiments were used extensively in support of the civil authority to quell riots and civil disturbances, including the Peterloo Massacre; as police forces were created and took over this role, the Yeomanry concentrated on local defence. In 1827, it was decided for financial reasons to reduce the number of yeomanry regiments, disbanding those that had not been required to assist the civil power over the previous decade. A number of independent troops were also dissolved. Following these reductions, the yeomanry establishment was fixed at 22 corps (regiments) receiving allowances and a further 16 serving without pay.
During the 1830s, the number of yeomanry units fluctuated, reflecting the level of civil unrest in any particular region at any particular time.