High Quality Replica Item. Only One Available. This is an exceptional high-quality reproduction English-style matchlock musket of the late 16th to early 17th century, constructed by noted early-firearms maker Dale Shinn and accompanied by a tall forked musket rest. The set comes from the personal prop collection of Steve George, who served as Property Master on Terrence Malick’s 2005 historical film The New World, and it was represented as having been used in that production as well as other film work associated with George.

This is a replica of a black powder firearm using a primitive matchlock ignition system. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The matchlock measures roughly 55 ¼” long and comes with a great correct “shepherd’s crook” type shooting stick mount. The shooting stick measures 57 ¼” with a brass pike at the bottom and brass mount at the top to support the matchlock. The overall form is characteristic of the heavy matchlock muskets used in England and continental Europe around the turn of the 17th century.

Unlike the lighter caliver, which could normally be fired from the shoulder without additional support, the heavier musket was commonly used with a forked rest planted in the ground to support the weight of the barrel. Historic Jamestowne notes that the early English settlers used both matchlock muskets and lighter firearms, with the heavier muskets requiring a forked ground rest. Archaeological excavations at Jamestown have recovered parts of several such rests as well as matchlock components.

The only markings on the matchlock are SG1 on the stock behind the barrel, and 11 on the barrel tang. SG1 is one of Steve George’s inventory numbers, and 11 is likely just an inventory number from when it was used in the film.

The matchlock retains the ram rod and still functions well. This will make for an outstanding display, or for a reenactment, as it will still fire! The present gun is built as a functional black-powder matchlock, rather than a non-firing theatrical dummy.

This particular firearm was manufactured by Dale Shinn, a respected modern maker specializing in historically accurate early firearms. Contemporary enthusiast references from the early 2000s describe Shinn as a highly regarded builder of matchlocks, wheellocks, snaphaunces, and other pre-flintlock firearms, with surviving examples including matchlock calivers and heavier matchlock muskets. A later firearms article likewise documents a custom Dale Shinn matchlock caliver, noting that it remained a functional shooting arm decades after its manufacture.

The New World was written and directed by Terrence Malick and dramatizes the establishment of the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, beginning in 1607, with its story centered on Captain John Smith, Pocahontas, and John Rolfe.

The combination of the Dale Shinn maker attribution, mechanically functional matchlock construction, approximately 55¼-inch length, accompanying 57¼-inch forked musket rest, SG1 prop-inventory marking, and provenance from The New World Property Master Steve George makes this a particularly compelling modern reproduction of an early English military firearm. Its form is historically appropriate to the transitional period surrounding the founding of Jamestown, while its film-industry provenance places it within the modern reconstruction and interpretation of that history.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.