Match-Lock questions

[CaptainBill03]

Good morning
Is there any evidence that shoulder slings were used with matchlocks?
Is there any evidence that gun cases were used with matchlocks?
Captain

 

[Teleoceras]

Captain Road Kill:

Is there any evidence that shoulder slings were used with matchlocks?
Is there any evidence that gun cases were used with matchlocks?

I have heard nothing with shoulder slings.

As for gun cases....Maybe with nobility. But with nobility, it was likely that they were using Wheellocks by that time.

 

[musketman]

As for gun cases....Maybe with nobility. But with nobility, it was likely that they were using Wheellocks by that time.

I thought the nobile person had someone carry his gun for him until he needed it, or was that just for Africa hunting...

 

[robinghewitt]

I doubt you will get anyone to put their hand on their heart and say, "there is no evidence", but slings, holsters, belt hooks and lanyards were very much a cavalry thing and the cavalry favoured pistols.

The Germans/Austrians were very keen on slings for their hunting pieces and, of course, they had a protracted love affair with the wheellock, but I haven't noticed any slings on anything until they went flint and suddenly everything had one.

Someone was conjecturing whether the petronel (flint but early) got it's name because it was rested against or slung across the chest. I vote for rested ::.

 

Most hunting wheellocks did have slings, usually with a swivel near the muzzle and the head of the rear tang screw just ahead of the trigger guard served as button (you can see the screw head a bit in the picture). The screw was long enough to accommodate the extra thickness of the sling, therefore protodes a bit if no sling is used. Longer guns sometimes had two swivels.

With heavy matchlock muskets, the question would be why at all to carry them on a sling. No need to keep them ready to fire (preparation would take too long for that anyway), and on marches they were carried over the shoulder.

Robert

 

[robinghewitt]

If it was a military piece it would have a big ring, or a rail, on the opposite side to the lock. The cavalryman would carry it with a carbine belt slung over whichever shoulder didn't have his sword belt.

I must have missed the picture showing a wheellock with a sling, I will be sure to watch out for it.

 

[robinghewitt]

I thought the nobile person had someone carry his gun for him until he needed it, or was that just for Africa hunting...

Au contraire, you are perfectly correct. In the 17th century a sporting gentlman would shoot from horseback while his unmounted servant did the reloading.

 

thought the nobile person had someone carry his gun for him until he needed it, or was that just for Africa hunting...

Yep, here in the German region they were called "B

 

[CaptainBill03]

Thanks all for the intereresting discussion
Captain

 

[robinghewitt]

Regretably, this pictur is a bit small.

We have the technology.

Surely these men are mountaineers, people renowned for tying all sorts to their backs with bits of rope?

I am still impressed that you managed to find a sling pic though ::

 

Ah! Too bad the resolution is not high enought to show the exact sling fastening, which the original does. I have the picture as a copy from a book.

Mountain climbing was probably not understood as a sport in those days. But alpine hunters went after rams and "gams" (did not find the translation for that - the smaller animal that lives in the cliffs).

 

[Leonredbeard]

I don't mean to be picky, but, au contraire means 'on the contrary' It would not be something to say when you agree but when you disagree.
God bless. volatpluvia.
Leon

 

[robinghewitt]

"or was that just for Africa hunting..."

"Au contraire", no it wasn't