Two Fine and Characteristic Military Matchlock Muskets, Suhl, ca. 1615-20

[Matchlock]

Almost identical, the two are typical muskets from the beginning of the Thirty Years War, and of Dutch type, the beechwood full stock with flared fishtail butt painted black, the sighted barrel struck with Suhl (Thuringia, Germany) marks and octagonal at the breech, then changing to round section, the rectangular lock of Suhl type.
Overall length of this type of musket ca. 156 cm, weight ca. 7 kg.

After ca. 1600, Suhl, as the biggest cluster of independent gunsmiths workshops of that period, increasingly specialized in furnishing barrels, locks and mounts to various European countries and their armories where they were stocked respectively. Among those countries relatively easily identfiable by the connoisseur on the grounds of their national pecularities in stocking are Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

The first of these two muskets is arranged in a wonderfully atmospheric photo, and on display at the Royal Armouries, Leeds, together with a contemporary musketeer's bandolier complete with its wooden powder measures covered with thin blackened leather and a leather pouch for balls, and a characteristic musket rest retaining its original ash haft.

Clamped between the jaws of the serpentine of the first musket is a length of original hemp matchcord from my collection which I donated to Graeme Rimer of the Royal Armouries in 1991 because I was aware that that was one rare piece of accessory that the RA did not have.


The small trapezoid flask for priming powder shown together with the second musket, the body made of wood covered with green velvet and reinforced by iron bands, the top mount consisting of an iron cap to which a tapering nozzle is soldered, and retaining its original woollen tassels, actually is of Swiss type.
The damaged bandolier comprising a light brown leather string attached to which is a number of small round flasks lathed of thin-walled wood, with the bullet pouch missing.


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A similar, contemporary sample, ca. 1615-20, with a Netherlandish stock, the barrel and lock Suhl made, in the Musée de l'Armée, Paris.

m

[Marcus den toom]

Beautiful and elegant weapons
I see an iron mount protruding from the lock? Was this to hold the match cord?

[Matchlock]

Hi Marcus,

As I cannot see what you seem to see, could you please mark the spot for me to identify? There seems to be nothing to this lock mechanism that ought not to be there.

Best,
m

[Marcus den toom]

I think i already see what it is, the hook which keeps the gun on the wall.
Its a bit of an optical illusion, but nothing special

[Matchlock]

It is a museum's hook in the wall!

m