Carbine for comments

[fernando]

Once again a gun of indistinct provenance, although i would appoint it to a Portuguese origin. The style of the hammer used for the conversion from flint to percussion is typical of Portuguese modification from the Pé de Cabra (goat foot) flint version.
Also the 'scars' on the lock plate suggest the home of a Portuguese frizzen spring.
The Britishized swivel ramrod is missing; i am thinking hardly of having one made, after an old spare rod and new swivel parts.
The calibre is typical of a smooth bore, indeed one larger than usual for a carbine, with 20 m/m (10 bore).
I wouldn't know what to make of those 'marks' on the barrel breech; whether they are real marks and where from... assuming barrels are usually non Portuguese.
Butt plate, trigger guard, ramrod pipe and forend cap all in brass, showing nice patina.
I would place the date of this piece between end XVIII / beg. XIX centuries.
Barrel length 52 cms. Total length 89 cms.
Would anyone care to comment on this piece ?
Thanks

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[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,


Yup, end of the 18th c. is a correct date assigned in my eyes.

It is rare to see me posting on a gun transformed to percussion in ca. 1840 but this mechanism is notable for the fact that the sear nose protrudes from the outer lockplate. This a very unusual version of a so-called German Hakenspannschloss which first appeared on early flintlocks in ca. 1650.
In the first part of the famous auction of the complete armory of Schloss Dyck near Düsseldorf, the former collection of the Princes Salm-Reifferscheidt, at Christie's London, 15 April 1992, there was a remarkable early French flintlock musket, ca. 1655, lot 51, with a lock of that type, falsely labeled as a 'snaphaunce' by Christie's.

It was heavily damaged, with various parts missing and a defective action, so I bought lot 52, in perfect condition including its original ramrod, illustrated with lot 51.


Best,
Michl

[Fernando K]

Hi, namesake:

I think there has been a military rifle (carbine) from the time of the Napoleonic wars in Spain and Portugal, as amended and added antique / engraving), and of course, replaced the key (lock).

I confess this is the first time I meet with the "crowbar". It has many similarities with the Spanish Miqueletes. The average riding (half cock) is achieved with a projection (arch) that gets under the curve of the appendix and full rides (full cock) is achieved with an appendix spring, I imagine.

The system referred to Matchlock, would not be the same, and which can be seen in some Scottish weapons? (half cock)

Fernando K

[Fernando K]

Hi, namesake

Here I upload a picture of the key (lock) called "mixed" model 1801 pistol. Gib had a musket-fire keeps the bowl (pan), and a drawing of John Sopena Garreta "History of Spanish arms" of the two keys (locks)

affectionately
Fernando K

[Fernando K]

Hi

Fernando K

[fernando]

Hola tocayo (namesake),
I was aware of the "llave mixta" 1801, as it comes in Calvó's work ARMAMAMENTO ESPAÑOL EN LA GUERRRA DE INDENPENCIA, equipping cavalry pistols and the tercerola model 1803.
You are right in what concerns the cocking of my carbine, with two positions.
I also suspect this gun was in action during the Napoleonic period, but the models i am aware of, are not the same as this one. As i said, i am surprised with such large calibre. Maybe this is a setup made with parts from different origin, like so many regional blunderbusses from the period.

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