18th Miquelet Lock Musket, Catalonian Maker Info Needed

[dana_w]

I am photographing this Spanish Musket for WeaponsCollector.com today. The makers mark on the barrel appears to be that of Joan (Juan) Prat. I've found this unattributed information on-line.

Joan (Juan) Prat, a Basque gunsmith, was active circa 1780 in Ripoll, in Gerona province in the eastern Spanish Pyrenees, 20 miles south of the French border.

The Prat family is mentioned in Dr. James D. Lavin's A History of Spanish Firearms on page 274:

Prats, M. , A Ripoll lockmaker active during the final quarter of the seventeenth century. His mark together with the date 1686 appears on the battery of a three-barrelled gun in the Museo Arqueolégico Nacional, Madrid (6417). The family of Prats or Prat manufactured locks and barrels in Ripoll until the middle of the eighteenth century.

Several Prats are listed in Diccionario Biografico de Artistas de Cataluna, desde la epoca romana hasta nuestros dias (Biographical Dictionary of Artists of Catalonia, from Roman times to the present day) by J. F. Rafols, (1951), see attached images. I don’t speak Spanish and have yet to pass these listing by Google Translate.

I'd appreciate any additional information or clarification on Joan Prat and the Prat family.

[Fernando K]

Hello

This is not a musket, but a shotgun. The barrel channel stretches beyond the handle and the lock is the so-called "all three fashions".

The Ripoll PARAT lineage includes 22 gunsmiths

Ramiro Larrañaga, in "Historical Synthesis of the Basque Armory", page 266, brings the following news

PRAT Line of arms of Ri`poll. 17th and 18th centuries. There are more than 22 teachers of this surname

That's it

Affectionately. Fernando K

PS I did not see the inscription on the plate of the lock
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[dana_w]

Thanks for the info on the PARAT lineage Fernando K. Would you translate the Joan (Juan) Prat entries from the Diccionario Biografico de Artistas de Cataluna for me?

I have not found any inscription on the lock yet. I may remove it to check the inside soon.

I am not clear on why you think this long gun was made exclusively for shot and not ball. Are you trying to say it is because the stock doesn't extend the length of the barrel?

[Fernando K]

Hello dana

Yes, exactly. The stock does not extend to the mouth, the drumstick gets into where the stock ends and because it is a quality weapon. The hunting bayonet in iodine case, gets into the barrel

You will be translating the tickets for IOAN PRAT, but tomorrow

Greetings. Fernando K

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

Hello dana

Yes, exactly. The stock does not extend to the mouth, the drumstick gets into where the stock ends and because it is a quality weapon. The hunting bayonet in iodine case, gets into the barrel

You will be translating the tickets for IOAN PRAT, but tomorrow

Greetings. Fernando K

Interesting. That is not a distinction I remember reading about. I've seen many smooth bore half stock long guns being called Muskets. The bore on this weapon is around .75" (19.05 mm). It closely resembles the diameter on a Brown Bess.

[Fernando K]

PRATS, Joan. "Master of works" (mason) of the second half of the 15th century. I worked with Bartollome Mas in the church of Pino de Barcelona

PRATS, Joan. Maestro plateero barcelones, from the 15th century - I finish his "pasantia" in 1579, presenting a ring. In his entrance in the books of the guild it is made record that he has to pass new examinations in 1593 and 1616

PRATS "Master stocmaker" of the 15th century, born in Barcelona. It is known to him City councilman for the consular year of 1644 - 1665

PRATS, Joan "Master of works" (mason) of the 16th century .. Together with Jose Rovira and helped by his son Jose, I built in 1670 the base of the high altar in the parish of Esparraguerra.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by dana_w

Interesting. That is not a distinction I remember reading about. I've seen many smooth bore half stock long guns being called Muskets ...

Distinction between either, in 'non technical' descriptions, doesn't often take place; yet such is a commonly accepted concept. Half stocked examples are usually hunting 'escopetas'; he term musket being more of a generic name, not so compromised with typology. Also surprising that, a gun of this quality would not have the lock maker name or mark well visible, once these are 'never' the same as cannon masters.