Deop Gunsmith Family of Catalonia

fernando · 10th February 2013, 01:31 PM

Well, in the true sense of the term ...
1 - A pedrenyal (Castillian pedreñal - Portuguese petronel) doesn't distinguish the ignition system per se. The term derives from the French petrinel or poitrinal (Latin pectus), meaning that you shot the weapon with the butt against the chest. They are either found in matchlock and flintlock. The sclopus was the prototype of the petronel. The petronel is a compromise between the harquebus and the pistol.
I personnaly doubt the matchlock mention; would better understand wheelock.

2 - What Lavin says in page 230 that the pedreñal (pedrenyal) refers to the ignition system, as the term derives from the Latin petrinus (stone, hence flint), we have somehow a contradiction to the first version.
Cervantes mentions that the bandits had fewer haquebuts than pistoletes (locally called pedrenãles). But he doesn't specify whether these were wheelocks or flintlocks, both igniting with a flint.

3 - One certain thing we may infer is that, the pedrenyal=pedreñal=petronel was a huge hand firearm, an (one of) ancestor of the pistol. The ignition system had to do with specific provenances, fashions and their relative technology evolution.

10th February 2013, 01:31 PM	#14
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Deeper into the question Well, in the true sense of the term ... 1 - A pedrenyal (Castillian pedreñal - Portuguese petronel) doesn't distinguish the ignition system per se. The term derives from the French petrinel or poitrinal (Latin pectus), meaning that you shot the weapon with the butt against the chest. They are either found in matchlock and flintlock. The sclopus was the prototype of the petronel. The petronel is a compromise between the harquebus and the pistol. I personnaly doubt the matchlock mention; would better understand wheelock. 2 - What Lavin says in page 230 that the pedreñal (pedrenyal) refers to the ignition system, as the term derives from the Latin petrinus (stone, hence flint), we have somehow a contradiction to the first version. Cervantes mentions that the bandits had fewer haquebuts than pistoletes (locally called pedrenãles). But he doesn't specify whether these were wheelocks or flintlocks, both igniting with a flint. 3 - One certain thing we may infer is that, the pedrenyal=pedreñal=petronel was a huge hand firearm, an (one of) ancestor of the pistol. The ignition system had to do with specific provenances, fashions and their relative technology evolution. Attached Images