A Flintlock Musketoon by John Dafte, of the type associated with the Rye House plot,circa 1680

with three-stage barrel widening towards the muzzle and octagonal at the breech, struck with London proof marks and TW crowned for Thomas Williams on the breech, signed rounded lock engraved with stylised strawberry foliage and retained by two sidenails (the cock expertly replaced), figured walnut full stock carved with a raised moulding about the barrel tang (the fore-end with cracks and repairs), the butt previously with raised cheek-piece, brass mounts comprising trigger-guard with moulded terminal, flat butt-plate, later scrolling side-plate, and moulded ramrod-pipe, and later ramrod

John S. Cooper & Kenneth J. Westwood: John Dafte Gunsmith and the Horrid Conspiracy of 1683, Gillingham Press 1989, pp.66-67, illustrated.

John Dafte was admitted to the Freedom of the Gunmakers' Company on 12th November 1668 but apparently did not start in business until 1673, continuing until 1693.

 

Musketoons similar to the present example were ordered for use in the Rye House plot, an attempt to assassinate King Charles II and the Duke of York on their return from Newmarket in 1683.   Thirty pistols, thirty carbines and ten blunderbusses were ordered by Robert West from Dafte.  West was a republican lawyer with chambers at the Inner Temple close to Dafte's Shooe Lane premises.  It was requested that the firearms be packed in Sea Chests as if for a long voyage and it was later claimed that they were intended for use on West's plantations in Carolina.  They were paid for by Robert Fergusson, a Scottish preacher in the City of London who was known for his fierce independance and antimonarchal feelings.  However, the plotters were betrayed and a number successfully brought to justice, including the Duke of Monmouth who was to reappear with dramatic consequences two years later.

John Dafte was interrogated and found not guilty.  He is described as a 'very honest fellow' and was working again soon after.