Gunroom

“Blimey missus, that’s a big ’un!”. Such was my initial reaction on being shown what was the largest flintlock musket I have ever seen.

Measuring some 51/2ft long, with a 54in barrel, you might be forgiven for thinking it had been made for some giant 18th-century grenadier. However, the reality is much more banal. These behemoths were actually designed for use in siege warfare. Known as ‘wall pieces’ or