Flintlock musket, Thoresby Volunteers, Nottinghamshire, 1803 (c)

Made by Knubley of London, 1803 (c).

Known as a 'Knubley' musket, this is a civilian weapon based on a standard government pattern. Standarisation allowed bayonets to be supplied from a different maker. So while the gun was made in London, its bayonet came from Birmingham.

The Thoresby Volunteers were raised in 1803. The unit was commanded by Herbert Pierrepoint, a man of immense wealth and great influence in the locality. The unit was raised not only to counteract any threat of invasion but also to protect the Pierrepoint estate against aggression and looting resulting from the civil disturbances prevailing at the time.