Original British Musket Flints from the Revolutionary War (SOLD)

Being offered are two British flints that were made to regulation pattern at Brandon, in the County of Suffolk, during the Revolutionary War. They measure approximately 1 1/4" x 1 1/4". British troops received their supply of musket flints in a small 70-pound cask (called a half barrel) which contained two thousand of the napped stones.

Traditionally, the flint was held in the flintlock cock jaws (see pictures), cushioned by a small piece of cloth, leather or even by a small lead sheet. Some soldiers would use the same flint between twenty and thirty firings before deteriorating or splitting. In 1789 British regulations recommended that soldiers change the flint after 15 – 18 shots.

Each soldier, therefore, was expected to carry many spare flints along with powder and balls. These flints come in the glass top display case pictured.