Historical Background
By the end of the 17th century, the British Army was armed extensively with the doglock musket. By 1700, the doglock had evolved into a beautiful and sleek arm unique to the English complete with it brass hardware. While flintlocks without dog catches started to surface at this time, the doglock would have been one of the principal English weapons in Marlborough's army when he defeated the French at the Battles of Blenheim in 1704, Ramillies in 1706, Oudenaarde in 1708, and Malplaquet in 1709. Under the leadership of the Duke of Marlborough, the British Army had truly entered the 18th century in great glory.
However at the same time the doglock had become perfected, the true flintlock without the dog catch started to take hold in the army. By the 1720s the dog lock had been replaced in the Army by the Brown Bess. That did not end the use of this arm. As the brown bess was introduced, thousands of surplus doglock muskets were turned over to the Royal Navy or shipped to the American Colonies. It is not a coincidence the brass hardware styles of the musket offered here, show up on the first Sea Service musket in 1738.
The doglock, especially with its brass furniture, was quite popular on board ship. Eventually through engagements and desertion, pirates and privateers would have also came to use this arm. Doglock barrel lengths varied from 42 inches to 48 inch fowlers. The reproduction here, designed after an original in the Parks Canada collection made by Walker, has a 42 inch barrel. The 42 inch barrel was much more ideal for naval service than the longer fowlers.
In the American colonies, there are references to doglocks in colonial armouries through the French and Indian War and all the way up to the eve of the American Revolution. Certainly with arms in short supply at the opening of the conflict, American colonists would have been glad to pick up a doglock in their dispute with King George III.
Battle of Blenheim, 1704
Specifications
The reproduction we offer here has a 42 inch .69 calibre barrel is made of tempered seamless high carbon steel (type:BS970 no.080M40) with a threaded breech plug. The lock is made with strong durable springs and has a case-hardened frizzen (hammer) that throws good sparks (our new process of cyanide hardening has made this even more durable). This is a true dog lock and the tumbler is notched only at the full cock. The dog catch provides the half cock. However some had both, and a skilled owner with a file can add a second notch if he/she so wishes. This musket possesses a wooden rammer. We use a cyanide case-hardening factory process that makes sparking both more reliable and longer lasting. Presently no other musket provider uses this technique. This dog lock has brass furniture and the serpent shaped lock plate is particularly eye catching.
As with all our other flintlocks, the vent is not drilled so we can ship easily to your door throughout North America and to Europe and the UK. Aside from that they are exactly like the originals. A fine addition to any collection.
