Wheellock extendable stocks: More information?

[TobJohn]

The Real Armería de Madrid has multiple wheellocks with extendable stocks. Unfortunately, I cannot find any information that properly describes the mechanism, or even a good image of the guns.
Here are some examples:

The only similar mechanism I could find is this one, from around 150 years later:

It has a button release, which does not appear to be present on the wheellocks.

Does anyone have any additional information on this type, particularly how the mechanism works? I am struggling to find anything. My following post will have some of the additional information I found in Apuntes de la armería española. Siglos XVI a XIX, by Javier Sagrera.

 

[TobJohn]

Here is some information from the previously mentioned book:
(Spanish and translated to English)

The translation calls it a screw stock, which provides some idea of how the stock would work. Maybe only the the two ends of the metal rod have threading, so you can unscrew, pull it to length, and then screw it tight?

The translation also calls it a “typical German extendable stock”. This is strange because I have never seen a German extendable stock. It also implies there are more examples, if it is “typical”.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Very interesting ... I wonder if this was prevalent in the age when one may have worn chest armor plate or not, as we've seen that inhibits correctly shouldering a stocked arm, i.e., directly related to the arm's length of pull.

 

[TobJohn]

Very interesting ... I wonder if this was prevalent in the age when one may have worn chest armor plate or not, as we've seen that inhibits correctly shouldering a stocked arm, i.e., directly related to the arm's length of pull.

I think that’s exactly the case. One of them is dated to 1530 (the earliest dated wheellock), which is when Gendarmes and other heavy lance cavalry were still galloping around.

 

[Sam squanch]

It may have a set screw hidden that used the spanner to tighten the screw that held the extension stock out?

 

[TobJohn]

It may have a set screw hidden that used the spanner to tighten the screw that held the extension stock out?

That’d probably be on the left side though, right?

It’s hard to tell based off the image quality, but it looks like there is possibly some sort of catch at the top of the metal discs.

 

[TobJohn]

I have not had much luck finding more images or information from the museum, but I did find the display's informational plaque:

I have an email out to the museum, asking about their double barreled wheellocks. If my horrendous attempt at Spanish does not push them away, hopefully I can ask about these stocks.

 

[TobJohn]

Guns and Rifles of the World has a bit more information. The main helpful bit is an image of the left side, showing there is no additional external part of the stock mechanism. The part above the trigger is a safety.

 

[TobJohn]

I found another extendable wheellock!!

https://basedescollections.musee-ar...&queryId=7f8644ba-228e-4c10-bb1e-83a8142eca5c
The mechanism on this one looks to be a simple pull out, with two springs that pop out to keep the stock opened. to close, it looks like you can squeeze them in and push the stock. I am not sure if this is the same system as the Spanish guns, but a possible option.

 

[Sam squanch]

Are those tiny accessory matchlocks that can fit onto the wheel lock?

 

[TobJohn]

Are those tiny accessory matchlocks that can fit onto the wheel lock?

For the French one? Yeah

 

[TobJohn]

Are those tiny accessory matchlocks that can fit onto the wheel lock?

I hadn’t noticed it before, but there is a very small hole above the trigger, so the detachable matchlock can directly interact with it. Very clever.

 

[PhDBrewer]

Found this write up referring to extendable butt stocks of Charles V. Of course, no images that show how they work.

Lots to investigate later this summer! Thanks for all the research folks! I am really enjoying these threads!

 

[TobJohn]

Found this write up referring to extendable butt stocks of Charles V. Of course, no images that show how they work.
View attachment 222792

Lots to investigate later this summer! Thanks for all the research folks! I am really enjoying these threads!

It does mention English pistols having the same mechanism, which could be a helpful clue. The only one I know of is in the video I posted further up, which has a button on the side. It does look like all the Spanish wheellocks have something right above the disk shaped part of the stock. Maybe a latch?

Unfortunately, my searching has only shown those folding stock Italian flintlocks, which are interesting because a notable portion of Brescian wheellock arquebuses have that system, but that’s a separate topic.

 

[TobJohn]

From A History of Spanish Firearms, by James D Lavin:

This sounds like you remove the stock extension entirely, and then screw it on? Could this be the reason for the little metal piece that is barely visible in images, maybe it’s an internal thread?