Gunroom

A versatile behemoth of mid-18th-century warfare, wall pieces were ideally suited to action on land or water and static or mobile combat

- Bill Harriman

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 51⁄2 ft 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 ‘rampart guns’, they were used by both defenders and besiegers alike.

Though designated as small arms, they were effectively ultra-light artillery that bridged the gap between the common musket and the smallest field gun. They had an effective range of about 400 yards and could be moved and deployed quickly, making them ideal weapons for plugging a gap in the defences or engaging fleeting opportunity targets.

They had no place in the manoeuvre warfare of the 18th century, but were very handy in fortresses or other static locations. While individual bores varied from nation to nation, wall pieces were generally about 4-bore. They threw a thumping great lead ball or could be loaded with heavy shot for closer targets.