Pretty cool! I imagine it was first built as a wheellock and then someone added the frizzen to the top of the wheellock dog and then the snaphaunce lock.
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Interesting combination wheellock & snaphaunce!
- Thread starter Flint62Smoothie
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Canute Rex
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Makes me wonder what is putting tension on the snaphaunce ****, and how the sear interacts with it. There must be some kind of connection to the existing mainspring. The existing wheellock sear would go right by it to engage with the wheel. I'd love to see the inside of that lock. Could both mechanisms work? I don't see why they left the pyrite jaws and wheel on otherwise.
Rick from St Louis believes it originated from the 'Experimental period' of the 17th century where locks rapidly transitioned from wheellock to snaphaunce to English-type locks (meaning horizontal sear, but combined frizzen face with cover, etc.) ... on the same lock plate through the years and sometimes together.
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Hi Flint
Well, the rough dating was just a guess on my part, especially with the butt stock design. A close up of the lock appears that it was made this way all at one time. But it's possible the snaphaunce action parts were added later (probably soon after). If so, in any case it looks like all the work was done by the same gun/locksmith. This combination lock experiment is proof there were "gear-heads" even during this period. LOL Only the nobility could afford to hire a gunsmith to build (for then) such exotic toys. It does show that flint ignition would continue to be developed over a half-century as the preferred ignition over the matchlock and wheellock. There was no turning back.
Rick
Well, the rough dating was just a guess on my part, especially with the butt stock design. A close up of the lock appears that it was made this way all at one time. But it's possible the snaphaunce action parts were added later (probably soon after). If so, in any case it looks like all the work was done by the same gun/locksmith. This combination lock experiment is proof there were "gear-heads" even during this period. LOL Only the nobility could afford to hire a gunsmith to build (for then) such exotic toys. It does show that flint ignition would continue to be developed over a half-century as the preferred ignition over the matchlock and wheellock. There was no turning back.
Rick
It is a remarkable gun and a wise way to insure that one has a reliable firearm push come to shove.
Most guns I have seen (in pictures only alas....) with dual ignition systems are matchlock as the back up, which to me just makes the most sense. Making a match for the lock is rather simple, even if you don't have ideal match. (recently was thinking that one could use a punk stick we use to ignite fireworks as a decent 'match')
Obviously only a rich patron could afford such a luxury firearm. But I doubt it was for his lordship himself, more likely an arm for a high ranking loyal minion. A firearm made for a noble would be much more ornate. An arm for the basic soldiers would be more lackluster. The lack of inlays, elaborate scrolling and bold heraldry lead me to this belief that it is such a gun one would be issued, not own. But certainly not an arm given to an enlisted/conscripted man.
Most guns I have seen (in pictures only alas....) with dual ignition systems are matchlock as the back up, which to me just makes the most sense. Making a match for the lock is rather simple, even if you don't have ideal match. (recently was thinking that one could use a punk stick we use to ignite fireworks as a decent 'match')
Obviously only a rich patron could afford such a luxury firearm. But I doubt it was for his lordship himself, more likely an arm for a high ranking loyal minion. A firearm made for a noble would be much more ornate. An arm for the basic soldiers would be more lackluster. The lack of inlays, elaborate scrolling and bold heraldry lead me to this belief that it is such a gun one would be issued, not own. But certainly not an arm given to an enlisted/conscripted man.
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The 17th C stuff allway s appeals to me and am familiar with the' English lock ' with dog. Re the alternate to match cord the dried fungus treated with lie seems a usefull light an was used a lot though today most just think of the Match cord option All good stuff .
Regards Rudyard
Regards Rudyard
DuncNZ
54 Cal.
It looks to me to be a Horseman's gun , maybe a hunter maybe Cavalry , in any way in those times the ability to fire the gun twice would be an advantage when a miss fire occurred , a double lock single barreled snaphaunce would be harder to make , so maybe the -wheel snaphaunce combination . Fire the wheel lock first . if it failed to fire ,fire the snaphaunce
