Linstock
Unknown Artist
early 18th century
Medium
Steel, wood
Dimensions
L. 74 in. (187.9 cm); L. of head 12 3/4 in. (32.7 cm); W. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 2 oz. (964 g)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
European
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1929
Accession Number
29.156.11
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and encounter this early 18th-century *Linstock*, a masterful European example of functional craftsmanship. Measuring a full 74 inches (187.9 cm) in length, with a steel head 12¾ inches (32.7 cm) long and weighing just over 2 pounds (964 g), it features a sturdy wooden shaft paired with forged steel elements—materials chosen for their durability in the rigors of military service. Linstocks were essential tools for firing cannons during an era of intense naval and siege warfare, when gunners used the forked head to hold a lit match...