Musket Ball Cufflinks, Circa 1645

Product Description

Stunning 17th Century Century English Civil War musket ball cufflinks. We have carefully sliced the lead balls in half, which has the double bonus of letting the musket balls sit well on the cuff as well as reducing the weight. (The balls are Approx. 1.3cm in diameter & weigh 1oz). Every pair is unique & may differ slightly from the photograph. The colour of the balls is dictated by the soil in which they were found. The soldiers were issued with a musket ball mold with their gun which they would then use to cast their own shot. They have a chain silver plated post. The summer of 1642 saw the beginning of the worst hostilities our Island has ever known. The next decade was marked by The English Civil War, which pitched brother against brother, friend against friend. By far the most regular & symbolic archaeological find of the period is the musket ball. This was used in massed ranks with devastating effect with the infamous muzzle loaded matchlock musket. A large & diverse range of calibres are found as each musket was supplied with its own unique mould & it would be safe to assume an equally diverse range of sources of the lead raw material was used in shot manufacture with Medieval church roofs a popular choice. Dangerous to use & only accurate to around 50-70 yards they were deadly effective when operated in a close rank volley. To convert something which was made with such brutal intent into something more positive & stylish, gives Peter, designer for English Relics, a strong link with the past which he finds very humbling. He is constantly surprised by how such war like artefacts can assume an elegant & discrete nature with which even