Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland.
Telephone : 053 9237596 / 7
Email :
info@1798centre.ie
Weapons
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Pikes were the principal weapon used by the
insurgents.
It was regarded as an effective weapon especially in close combat.
The original pike head was six inches long and spear shaped. The handle was approximately six feet long.
Later a hook was added to the side of the pike head to enable the insurgent to cut the reins of horses
in order to dismount the rider.
According to Myles Byrne, the pike was more easily managed than a soldier’s musket or bayonet. |
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The Blunderbuss |
The Blunderbuss
was well suited to close-range confrontations.
Its wide muzzle helped intimidate an opponent and its charge of numerous lead balls gave its owner a
better chance of hitting the target.
Blunderbusses were often fitted
with spring bayonets for additional protection - on releasing the catch
the bayonet would flip forward and lock in position, and pistol butts could be used as clubs.
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Flintlock
Musket |
This late 18th century India
Pattern musket comes from the family of longarms sometimes known as Brown
Bess muskets.
These muskets were so strong, simple to use and relatively reliable, they remained the main British infantry
weapon from the 1720s to the 1840s. |
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