Wheellock Carbines

TobJohn said:

I recently leaned about terzaroulo, which are late 16th and early 17th guns that are between pistol and arquebus sized. A lot of them look like giant pistols, like the one I posted further up (post 6). It seems like the cavalry carbine was a bit of convergent evolution from the arquebus and these guns, and also helps explain why 16th century carbines are rare.

In English, it looks like these guns are often labeled as petronels, which had been confusing me.

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rickystl said:

I think some of these old terms are interchangeable depending on where you were standing at the moment. LOL

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Canute Rex said:

Something to notice: cavalry carbines have wide spoon shaped trigger guards. It's added protection against snagging the trigger on equipment while jostling around on a horse. Arms for foot soldiers have notably narrower trigger guards. Not universal (is anything?), but a tell.

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XVIIc Wheelock said:

To me, there is nothing more beautiful or graceful, than a 17th Century Germanic wheelock. Spent many of my working years in the 80's, 90's and early 2000 visiting European museums and a few very interesting collectors, gloating over wheelocks, handling and shooting currently made exact replicas of those magnificent locks and firearms. Reading whatever period firearms reference books I can find. I prefer those wheelocks that are unadorned working tools, lacking the gilt and glitter of the super wealthy back in those years. Spent a lot of time in Poland, the heart of insane wheelock art makers guild in the world, studying and making notes. There are maybe only 7 or 8 really top quality true wheelock craftsmen in the world and the vast majority are in Poland. They all seem to unselfishly study each others manufacturing of handcrafted locks. They all seem to find their niche and bounce ideas off each other. Rare in these times. Happy I found this site! Happy I found you good folks who appreciate these firearms. As the months roll by as I settle in, I will try to join in these conversations. Until then!

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Lead Snowstorm said:

I have always liked the paddle-butt carbines. One point of interest to me regarding some wheellock carbines, not extensively depicted thus far in the thread, is how early the saddle ring and bar evolved to retain cavalry carbines. That particular innovation lasted a good quarter-millennium, essentially to the end of horse cavalry and into the bolt-action era.

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