A small group of Combined Horseman's Hammers/Axes and Wheellock Pistols, ca. 1550

[Matchlock]

This rare and early object, Nuremberg, ca. 1550, the lock etched and gilt, the iron grip retaining its original cord binding, was sold at Czerny's, Sarzana, in November 2013.
The lock is of early type, with the sickle-shaped dog spring half encircling the wheel cover. The "upward" section of the iron haft also forms the barrel, with the muzzle hidden benath a spring-loaded swiveling hinged cover; the hammer head and cover are punched with cirles and engraved with floral motifs.
Rear to the lock the grip is pierced for the lanyard, a leather sling securing the item to the wrist.
Thus equipped, the rider could fire at his opponent first, and only in case he had missed him he would have had to use the hammer.

More than 80 per cent of those 16th c. combination weapons are fakes or at least part scams, put together using several old parts; this one seems to all original, though.

For war hammers of common type please see my thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19346


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

The earliest known hammer-wheellock combination, ca. 1530-35, Schloss Ambras, Tirol, inv.no. 1035.

The scans from Harold L. Peterson: Enyclopedia of Firerams, 1964, p. 37, still depict that singular item perfectly preserved in his patina.
When the author was there in 2000, it had been crudely overcleaned; its raped "shiny" surface looked naked and sterile ...
Author's photos.

[Matchlock]

- Human skull smashed in by a hammer blow; National Museum Copenhagen;

- a combined hammer and matchlock gun, Italy, ca. 1550; Palazzo Dzucale, Venice;

- a combined hammer and rapier, Saxony, ca. 1580; Historisches Museum Dresden, Rüstkammer;

- a combined hammer and wheellock gun, ca. 1530-40; Konopiste Castle, Czechia;

- a combined hammer and wheellock gun, ca. 1530-40, ex Zschille collection;

- a combined wheellock hammer and two maces; the mace on top 1530's, the lock missing; the other two late 16th century; Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg;

- a faked gilt wheellock hammer, 20th century, in 1530's style; Fischer, Luzern, 22 June 2000.

[Matchlock]

A fine combined horseman's axe and flintlock gun, the blade and barrel Nuremberg, ca. 1550, the flintlock almost cerainly Dutch, and stocked in the 1660's to ca. 1680, probably in Poland.
For stylistic comparison, and to clarify the early date of the blade, attached find close-ups of the wheellock axe from post #1 in this thread, showing exactly the same style of engraving with vegetal motifs.

Saved from a post by Mike Gahagan on Facebook, but most probably from a Czerny's auction catalog.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

One more stylistic comparison concerning the mid-16th c. style of floral decoration on ironworks and weapons.
The ramrod of this flintlock axe is concealed ín the haft below the barrel.

[Matchlock]

A very fine and very unusual footman's combined war hammer, flintlock gun and sword, ca. 1645-50, sold Thomas Del Mar, 3 December 2014, as part of the Princely Armory at Schloss Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

Contrary to the description given in the catalog, this item is of characteristic Dutch manufacture.
It went unbelievably cheap.

Best,
Michael