An interesting 18th century British .76 flintlock musket of cavalry carbine type, wedge-fastened

An interesting 18th century British .76 flintlock musket of cavalry carbine type, wedge-fastened barrel 38 in., bevelled lock with crowned 'GR' and inscribed 'WHATELY'S' across the tail, brass sporting-pattern side plate with vacant screw hole - possibly provision for a sling bar, stock inlet at the wrist for an escutcheon of Land Pattern shape (lacking), stocked to within 4.25 in. of the muzzle, four ram rod pipes, steel ram rod, private Ordnance proof; together with a compatible socket bayonet, hollow-triangular-section blade 16.5 in. [2] Section 58(2) - no licence required if possessed as a curiosity or ornament.

(138 cm OAL)

This arm partly conforms to the Royal Horse Guards or Blues carbine of c. 1765 described by Bailey^1, but it is of musket bore and differs in other respects besides. Whately's may be one of the Whateley family of Birmingham gun and barrel makers who were active in the relevant period^2.

<sub>1. De Witt Bailey, 'British Military Longarms 1715-1865', p. 55
2. De Witt Bailey and Douglas A. Nie, 'English Gunmakers', p. 57</sub>