HMS INVINCIBLE CANNON FLINT from 1758 Wreck
This is a rare large cannon lock flint recovered from the wreck of HMS Invincible which sank in 1758.
The ship carried experimental flintlocks on the cannons and this large flint approx. 3.5cm x 3.5 cm and very nicely knapped, is thought to have been used in these cannon locks. Cannon locks are very rare to find and highly sought after by collectors and to find flints for these amongst the gunnery stores on the lower decks were a unique find.
See PHOTO
The flint comes in a nice presentation box,see photo,
a brief history of the wreck and a certificate of authenticity sign by one of the original divers.
The flints vary in colour from grey to black but all are of a similar shape as shown in the photo.
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See also listed Musket Ball (single & double) and Rope from this wreck.
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I also have these Flints with Certificate and Information Sheet BUT WITHOUT the presentation box @ £9.99. Please contact me if you are interested in one of these. ))
Other shipwreck recovered items can be found in my e-bay shop.
The wreck of HMS Invincible lay covered and forgotten until in May 1979 a fisherman snagged his nets and got a local diver to investigate. The dives produced a wealth of store items in the preserved lower decks and most items were sold through a London auction house in the late 1980’s.
The 74-gun warship L’Invincible was captured from the French at the battle of Cape Finnisterre on the 3rd May 1747. She was escorting a massive convoy of merchant ships when the British channel fleet of 13 warships sighted the convoy and gave chase. L’Invincible took on six warships and only struck her colours when most of the crew were either dead or wounded. After capture she became the Royal Navy’s first HMS Invincible. At the time most warships were much smaller than the 74 gun HMS Invincible and France was ahead of Britain in ship development. Her design revolutionised British ship design and in 1747 there were no 74’s in the British Navy. By the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 three quarters of British ships of the line were 74’s .
In February 1758, HMS Invincible was part of a large fleet of warships and transports at anchor in St Helens Roads off the Isle of Wight. Early on the 19th the fleet sailed but unfortunately the Invincible struck the Horse Tail Sandbank. Over the next days stores and many guns were taken off the ship but finally on the 22nd February 1758 she rolled onto her side and was lost. Over the next 200 years the ship and her contents have slowly been effected by worm action and decay but the anaerobic conditions found a few inches below the surface of the bank have kept many wood items in incredible condition which is unusual on a wreck, and why such wood artefacts are very rarely found.