Miquelet double barrels.

[Matt Maier]

Now that I have begun designing a patilla after a lock off of a Catalonian musket, it got me wondering. Were the Spanish and Portuguese ever known for building side by side fowlers? I have thus far only found information about the English side by side guns, but that being said, Spaniards and Portuguese have built some absolutely beautiful sporting guns.

Photos of my designs below.

 

[Matt Maier]

 

[Deep Creek Dale]

Very nice work. I presume you have a machinist background. I have made several of these by hand and several more from Rifle Shoppe castings. I have never seen or heard of a double barrel but that certainly doesn't mean they didn't exist. As you know, these types of guns are not well documented even though they were quite common. Since Catalan style guns are so light and handy, a side by side would be a sweet handler for sure.

 

[Matt Maier]

Actually I am a machinist. Thank you for your compliments. I am copying the design from the TRS kit #776, the Catalan military escopeta. Reason being I was not very pleased with the quality of the castings, and I decided it would be easier to make the lock from scratch using the castings as templates to measure from.

 

[Deep Creek Dale]

I actually like the castings and they work very well when cleaned up. Of course, I am an old registered nurse and like to take out my frustrations with a file and grinding wheel! I have built that #776 lock three times and it is a sparker!. I think I enjoy the problem solving and making everything work in unison on these different styles of locks. After all, how many southern mountain rifles with a Chambers Late Ketland lock does the world really need. If there is anything I can do to help with your project, let me know but it looks like you have it well in hand. Share some pictures with me when you are done.

 

[Matt Maier]

Thank you. I'm also in the process of designing a Moroccan style snaphance lock as well. French, English, and American guns get an almost disproportionate amount of representation. I do like long rifles and Hawkens, but I want to build something different.

Here are some more files of my CAD models. I'm going to build this gun with a replaceable battery face like many miquelets had prior to 1700. I think that is a very neat feature.

 

[rickystl]

Hi Matt

Very cool projects. There were Spanish and Italian double barrels made during the period. But they are considered quite rare. Here is a pic of one next to a single barrel long gun. Just as rare is a sporting gun(s) during this period with a rifled barrel. Apparently the Spanish and Italians didn't have much use for rifled barrels on their sporting guns.

Moroccan Snaphaunce Lock: I have an original, in the English pattern, that is in unused condition, that you are welcome to borrow if you need something for a pattern.

Rick

 

[Matt Maier]

Hi Rick. Thank you for the offer. I'm lucky enough to already have an example on loan to me from a friend for the Moroccan snaphance. Both are proving to be quite challenging and interesting projects already.

 

[tenngun]

Do you know when that gun was made? It all looks late eighteenth century to me

 

[rickystl]

Hi Tenngun

It's been a long time. But I seem to recall they were both identified as late 18th Century. Owned by a collector in Scotland. I kept these pics in my library since both of these guns are generally considered rare. The one being a double barrel. And the other being a single barrel - but with a full stock. Apparently, the Spanish had a definite preference for half-stocks on their sporting guns, even in the late 18th Century. Sure wish they were mine. LOL

Rick

 

[Barud]

Hello,

There is a side-by-side miquelet fowler in the Hermitage Museum that was made in Dagestan. Obviously it's quite a distance away but I thought perhaps you would be interested.