reproducing a miquelet lock

[Gustavo Hoefs]

I have been searching the forum and it seems one of the methods used to get a close reproduction of an original lock is to seek out and purchase an original gun then copy it. Some have worked from photographs to achieve a reproduction. I am interested in reproducing a miquelet lock and I am wondering if anyone has dimension details written down or would like some help with creating a set detailed working drawings as I have skills (ink pens and a roll of vellum) left over from the days before CAD when hand drawing was marketable.

 

[dave_person]

Hi Goo,
You have a great aspiration but if you are serious about it, I suggest you start with some research. Two books that are very valuable are Keith Neal's "Spanish Guns and Pistols" and "Espingarda Perfeyta". The first is a good survey of Spanish guns and the second has detailed full-sized drawings of Spanish or "patilla" locks. You will also learn that there are a variety of Spanish or "Mediterranean" locks. The name "Miquelet" was a 19th century creation almost 200 years after the lock evolved. Both books usually are available online from AbeBooks. Also, you can obtain accurate castings of Spanish and Italian "miquelet" locks from the Rifle Shoppe as long as you are willing to risk a long wait.

dave

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

Thanks Dave That book is a good lead ! My hopes are to find someone locally in who has one example of one lock from one maker, that will allow me to measure and dimension and draw the parts out on paper I also have the equipment to produce vulcanized rubber molds. I can make this but I would like to start some place other than pictures as a reference.

 

[ddoyle]

While I too am accustomed to (and understand) taking the most difficult route to a questionable end this is a case of prudent to take the beaten path and then cut your own trail home.

Call the Rifle Shoppe and see if they can convert your 125 dollars into a set of castings for one of the Mediterranean locks they offer. Heck they even have a left hand version.

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

Book and castings are on order :hatsoff:

 

[ddoyle]

Goo, did they mention if they had the castings on hand? Which one did you get? A friend mentioned an interest in one and I'd like to try my hand at it.

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

sorry for the delay just now saw this, they did not have a miquelet lock castings set on the shelf the woman I spoke to said Eight weeks they were getting ready to have the parts cast @ the foundry. from what i understand they only have one style of miquelet.

 

[Zonie]

Beware the Rifle Shoppe if your in a hurry.

While they are the only source for many old gunparts and the parts they supply are good, the company has a reputation for taking darn near forever to deliver.

One of their most common statements is they are out of castings and they are getting ready to have more cast.

That statement is probably true.

The problem is, foundries often put small special orders on the back burner while they are making large quantities of parts for big companies.

The small order can sit there, forgotten by everyone except the few people who are wanting that particular part for years.

Also, the RS is a small business that seems to sometimes forget they have a order for parts that doesn't seem to be having any work done on it.

It takes a few nudgings from PO'ed customers to get them to find out what the hang up is.

More than a few of our members have had to wait for well over a year for their RS part(s) to be delivered.

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

Thanks for the heads up ! Maybe I will upgrade my knowledge of sand casting bronze and aluminum to steel while waiting for the next year. :wink:

 

[Eterry]

Goo, welcome to the forum, and you certainly jumped in with both feet on this project.
You might be able to search out to a
museum that has an old Spanish gunne; if approached properly some would be agreeable to you handling, measuring, and taking photos.
If you're waiting a year or more on parts it would help you wile away the hours until the Brown truck shows up.
Cheers
ET

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

It would be nice if one or more of these guns could be scanned or measured and the dimensions made available to the public. The Giardoni rifle is open sourced on the Beeman web site but that is a real complicated piece and its a repeater so I am unsure on the law for that one. Ive been on the hunt for ones in museums, the Florida archeology dept in Tallahassee has some specimens but I think they are in a bit of rough condition. I think they even have some French gun artifacts from the Matanzas inlet debacle. The closest I could find so far is someone over at the Ponce de Leon fountain of youth park has a repop matchlock.