Detale of snapping matchlock
 

Serpentine of a snap tinder lock, ca. 1520's
 

Thank you so much, Alexander, for sharing this rare item with us.

It is preserved in the Statens Historiska Museum Stockholm.

Please allow me to post it here just in case that that link might vanish from the web.

I also attach images of identical serpentines on snap tinder lock arquebuses of the 1520's in the Pilsen Zapadoceske Muzeum just to give you some idea of what the actual complete guns looked like.

Best, and so glad to have been re-enlivened by your overwhelming care,
Michael

This is the Stockholm serpentine.

Hi, welcome back! We were all worried about you, missed your posts!

Best

M

Thank you so much, Manuel!

I must confress that I have been deeply moved seeing about how much you all have cared for me - thanks a lot again!

I have also responded thankfully to Fernando's superb thread on my long period of silence today.

Best,
Michael