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1825 flintlock, yes, it's real

Ischia
I'm doing research on a large museum quality collection for owner's s
ons whom I've known for 50 years. Only markings are J.Ridout and Henry Pratt on the lock. Condition is stunning,a museum piece. Any info on this maker?

Thanks,
Ischia
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    1825 seems rather late in the game for a high quality Flintlock sporting/hunting gun. Various percussion systems had been on the market for at least 10 years at that time. It was the old story of the "Better Mousetrap" once percussion ignition came on the market the only folks who stayed with flint for any length of time, was the military and poor folks who had no access or money to buy percussion firearms.

    In any case we need quality close up photos of the flintlock to help you. It is also possible that Ridout & Pratt were the lock makers only. Rather then the gunsmith who fabricated the flintlock. No telling when the lock was made, it might date to the 18th Century if it's a flint. It was quite common to recycle locks during that time frame.
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  • He Dog
    The western trappesrs clung to flint, in many cases to as late as 1840 or so, because acquisition and storage of caps were problematic, but in the East those how could did use caps, and the flinters were soon converted. It certainly does seem late for any but trade rifles.
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  • bobski
    pratt, maker, 1808 contract: look for an eagle motif marked ahead of the hammer.
    modeled after the 1795 charleville springfield style flintlock.
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  • rhmc24
    Hedog is right. My grandfather often talked about his grandfather, Grandpa Robison, who was in the Texas battle of San Jacinto in 1836 - said they were shooting flintlocks. You can google Joel W Robison for info about him. The Texas "army" was really composed of revolutionaries who used whatever guns they had on the frontier. It was the frontier, because Joel W's father was killed by indians on his way home from first Texas congress meeting.
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  • glabray
    Flintlocks stayed in common use much longer than many folks think. Even the US military used flinters and had new ones manufactured for a decade or more beyond the date on your gun. Sporting flintlocks were still common up to the Civil War and there are records of the South fielding units armed with flintlocks in that struggle.
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