Early Marked Musket Butt Plate with English Broad Arrow

[Palmetto]

Hey everyone-been a while since I posted-been checking in regularly however.
A week or so ago, headed to lowcountry for a quick two day dig-mosquitos are absolutely horrible and mornings were best time to get in the woods. Did fairly well with typical flat buttons, etc. Managed a beautiful 1775 half reale, toasty KG,1842 large cent, two Livery buttons with Phoenix design (coat and cuff found about 50 feet apart) and what I knew to be a musket butt plate almost on top of ground. Threw it in the pouch and did not think much of it.
When I got home, decided to clean it as I like gun parts. Lo and behold, a beautiful engraving appeared. It has the British Broad arrow with a number 1 under -I am assuming it is inspection mark and above is the Date 1715. The area I was in was in the heart of the Yemassee Wars which was from 1715 -1717. Bloody time period (look it up) and I can only assume that musket was engraved with that date to commemorate or stamp the owners involvement in that war.
Any comments or thoughts are appreciated. Would love to hear about he Broad Arrow use from some of our British friends.

 

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[SCdigger]

Awesome finds! That butt plate is truly a piece of real History!

 

[DigginNorthernVa]

Nice collection of relics and coins!

 

[HIGHSTRUNG]

Those are some awesome finds. Congrats!

 

[A2coins]

Wow I would pass out forks to the sweetest to find stuff like that Well done. Tommy

 

[Valley Ranger]

Love the butt plate - great piece of history!

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice finds Russ. The broad arrow and date on the butt plate is really cool. I have found trigger guard pieces with the broad arrow on British French & Indian War sites here in Pennsylvania.

 

[dirtlooter]

very cool, awesome on all of it but love the buttplate. a piece that had most likely seen some hard core stuff

 

[CRUSADER]

A lot of good finds there, congrats!

 

[Hawks88]

Nice piece of history you saved. Congrats on all the nice saves.

 

[The Rebel]

Fantastic hunt!

 

[Relicific]

So the butt plate is from a British musket.
Nice

 

[Scrappy]

Man those low country hunts you fellas go on are unbelievable! Way to go with that butt plate and a reale is always a fell good item! Nice work

 

[Palmetto]

So the butt plate is from a British musket.
Nice

I am pretty sure-Broad arrow is mark used by British govt and is seen on their issued pieces even through modern times.

 

[RVRoamer74]

Congrats on some super nice finds. The 1775 Half reale and butt plate are extra cool.

 

[Palmetto]

Nice finds Russ. The broad arrow and date on the butt plate is really cool. I have found trigger guard pieces with the broad arrow on British French & Indian War sites here in Pennsylvania.

Thanks Steve-I really did not know too much about the mark but what is great about this hobby is finding such a piece and then putting in the research and educating yourself as to its origins, history and use.

 

[Digger RJ]

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

 

[arrow86]

Those are some great finds , really cool piece of history

 

[Aureus]

Great finds! Congratulations!

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

I know the broad arrow meant that it was exclusive property of the crown, so it's not like a civilian just put it on their because they liked the look. That probably belonged to an actual soldier, rather than a militiaman or private citizen. I've heard that there are still live white pine out in the deep wilderness that bear the English broad arrow.