Now THIS is too cool … if you can’t see how that design eventually transitioned to be a ‘bolt action’ rifle … then I can’t help you, LOL!
This matchlock harquebus (Bavarian National Museum inv. W. 1445) dates to 1553 and is characterized by the breech-loading system.
As Schalkausser wrote: "Barrel opens at the rear to admit coaxial insertion of a steel cartridge with atached flashpan. Breech is closed by a long hinged bolt which blocks cartridges in place, the pan extruding laterally. Tubular rear sight serves as a locking bolt" (𝑃𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑒𝑐𝑘, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑟'𝑠 𝐺𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑡ℎ, In 𝐴𝑟𝑡, 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑟: 𝐴𝑛 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦, edited by Robert Held. Vol. 1. Chiasso 1979, pp. 182-201, n. 15).
The gun, decorated in a very refined way, has the Peter Peck mark on the barrel. This master is known in particular for having made wheellock weapons for Emperor Charles V. It was made for a member of the house of Austria.
This matchlock harquebus (Bavarian National Museum inv. W. 1445) dates to 1553 and is characterized by the breech-loading system.
As Schalkausser wrote: "Barrel opens at the rear to admit coaxial insertion of a steel cartridge with atached flashpan. Breech is closed by a long hinged bolt which blocks cartridges in place, the pan extruding laterally. Tubular rear sight serves as a locking bolt" (𝑃𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑒𝑐𝑘, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑟'𝑠 𝐺𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑡ℎ, In 𝐴𝑟𝑡, 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑟: 𝐴𝑛 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦, edited by Robert Held. Vol. 1. Chiasso 1979, pp. 182-201, n. 15).
The gun, decorated in a very refined way, has the Peter Peck mark on the barrel. This master is known in particular for having made wheellock weapons for Emperor Charles V. It was made for a member of the house of Austria.
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