Volunteer Eliott Carbine by Mather of Newcastle (AL7081)

An Eliott carbine identical to this one is pictured on page 31 in "British Commercial Military Carbines 1750 - 1900" by Barry Chisnall. It conforms to the dimensions of the Ordnance Eliott carbine circa 1800. The overall length of this carbine is approx. 43.75". The pin-fastened round 28" smooth bore 66 caliber barrel has an excellent bright bore. It has a pair of Tower private proof marks and has a flat lock as opposed to the rounded ones found on Ordnance carbines.  The barrel, lock, sling bar, and ramrod are bright. The brass furniture are clean and bright. The lock is marked MATHER over NEWCASTLE. It, and the flat goose neck covk, have double edge lines. The frizzen has a teardrop finial and earlystyle teaspoon shape pan. Mather is not a known English gunmaker but is more likely the retailer. The interion of the lock is stamped with the maker's touchmark, T.A., probably Thomas Archer (circa 1776-1807). Archer was a Birmingham gunmaker who had contracts with the Board of Ordnance in the early 1800's. The walnut stock has a handrail butt and brass fittings of Eliott form including the buttplate, triggerguard, three ramrod pipes, the flat "S" sideplate (like the P1770 sergeant's carbine), and nosecap. The iron ramrod has the notched groove in the swell which latches to the nosecap. The approx. 5.75" sling bar and ring are attached to the stock at the rear sideplate screw and another forward of it. The stock is fine with issue dents and dings, a small chip at the front of the lockplate, and I.R stocker's initials on the left sideplate. The action functions correctly. According ot Chisnall, these Mather Eliott carbines were most likely for the Northumberland Yeomanry (p144). This superior flintlock carbine is fit for the finest English flintlock carbine collection.