I actually had the pleasant opportunity to see these pistols at RIA in 2020...although only as a viewing audience! Good info as well. Enjoy!
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For those who enjoy viewing highly ornate wheelocks
- Thread starter XVIIc Wheelock
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Puffers are so cool because they are both ridiculously highly decorated AND military arms
Lovely pistols
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I can't even imagine how long it would have taken for a gunmaker to make both pistols. Likely months to complete - even if commissioned full time. Just beautiful.
Rick
Rick
I would like to know who these pistols were contracted for, who the manufacturer was, and how much was paid to the engraver back in the day.... converted into todays $$'s. My guess??? maybe $100k u.s. to the engraver? It had to take over a year full time engraving production....your guess??? I would think the engraver was the best the world had to offer at that time! Beretta was manufacturing at that time (still the oldest manufacturer of any product in the world and still a family owned business!). Incredibly interesting!!!!
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Wheellock Pistol, Nurnberg 1575
I know I am always sharing his work, but Armin made a pair of puffers that took 1500 hours. When I saw his price chart, each one was selling for €10,000, 15 years ago.
TobJohn: Are/was the Armin puffers as detailed as those in the original post?
Some soldiers bought their own, but it was common for a wealthy individual to get a contract to raise and outfit a unit. I assume the former was more common for cavalry.
These types of pistols were used by Reiters and cuirassier. Each soldier would have two on their horses. The price of these pistols would obviously be high, but these horsemen would also have a set of 3/4 plate armor (often bulletproof), multiple horses, and at least one sword. The pistols, even highly decorated, would only be a small fraction of the overall cost. Compared to the men at arms/gendarmes that they replaced, this was a MUCH cheaper and easier to train option.
Puffers are very distinctly Germanic, with italian pistols having a different shape and becoming more common as puffers started to go out of style.
The wood isn’t as heavily inlaid, but the metal is significantly more richly decorated on his.
I should clarify, the ones in the video are definitely on the highest end of decoration, but there are several other surviving military sets matching that. The decoration for average puffer would be closer to this:
Whew, hard to catch my breath with the knowledge you good folks have! I am trying to retrieve some photos I took back in the 90's in Poland and some of the European museums. Especially some of the wheelock carbines and short muskets.
I took these photos in the late 80's early 90's.....some in Poland, rest in Germany. Too long ago to remember where. You might recognize some as I had posted before long ago. I will try to research where soon. Enjoy
Do you know what museum the wheellock and bandolier are from?
These 2 'chargers' where circled are VERY curious, as I have never seen a prming or other charger (more powdah ... longer range?) bottle or apostle mixed in with the regular sized containers ... unless that is the 'middle' of the bandolier, of which we can't see the whole thing in that picture.
TobJohn: Good question; however, I visited over a dozen museums in Poland, Germany, Austria, France in the late '80's. Wish I could remember?? Maybe age related? I did post these and other pictures elsewhere long ago....I think some may be on a google search. That does not help answer your question however!
Wish I could answer...I will try to find out, may take some time.
The second wider container may be a bullet or shot container? It has a larger mouth than the rest.
It looks familiar, so I was curious.
Not the correct museum, but if anyone wants to look at wheellock pistol eye candy, this is the best place available online:
SKD | Online Collection
TobJohn....you are absolutely amazing!
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