Insights of German Wheellock Mechanisms

Pukka Bundook · 17th November 2011, 02:42 PM

Michael,

having done a small amount chiseling myself, I can appreciate the terrific amount of work that went into the above gun!

Re. the crocodile;
I have only seen the crocodile I think on arms made from the mid 1500's to mid 1600's.
Is this the case?...and can you tell me why /how it became part of the decoration?

Take care my friend,
Richard.

Matchlock · 17th November 2011, 04:41 PM

Hi Richard,

As always your observations are just on the point though this is is not really a crocodile but a lizard.

Animals like birds, lizards, snakes and sea monsters became a fashionable decoration in the Renaissance period, usually the Italian High Renaissance, correspondig to the German Early Renaissance which is the early to mid 16th c. They can mostly be found on barrels, entwined in foliage and botanic scrollwork.

This zoomorphic decoration was especially employed on ironwork of all kinds, as well as by the stone masons.

In the case of the laid-on fire-gilt brass attachments of the 1548 lock, they are definitely not soldered or riveted but, in my opinion, just had one or two rectangular conical pins on the underside which were just hammered into corresponding holes in the lock plate.

Best, my brilliant friend,
Michael

17th November 2011, 02:42 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Michael, having done a small amount chiseling myself, I can appreciate the terrific amount of work that went into the above gun! Re. the crocodile; I have only seen the crocodile I think on arms made from the mid 1500's to mid 1600's. Is this the case?...and can you tell me why /how it became part of the decoration? Take care my friend, Richard.

17th November 2011, 04:41 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Richard, As always your observations are just on the point though this is is not really a crocodile but a lizard. Animals like birds, lizards, snakes and sea monsters became a fashionable decoration in the Renaissance period, usually the Italian High Renaissance, correspondig to the German Early Renaissance which is the early to mid 16th c. They can mostly be found on barrels, entwined in foliage and botanic scrollwork. This zoomorphic decoration was especially employed on ironwork of all kinds, as well as by the stone masons. In the case of the laid-on fire-gilt brass attachments of the 1548 lock, they are definitely not soldered or riveted but, in my opinion, just had one or two rectangular conical pins on the underside which were just hammered into corresponding holes in the lock plate. Best, my brilliant friend, Michael