One of the world's earliest known wheel-lock mechanisms, ca. 1535-40

Matchlock · 6th March 2014, 03:53 PM

Hi Marcus,

It is as Fernando K said:

There is a small, thin integral hook at the underside of the pan cover which reaches into a longitudinal slot at the inside of the wheel. When the wheel starts spinning back it pushes the pan cover open, which otherwise is kept on the pan by the pressure of a long, thin, one-armed spring.

I tried to mark the arm of the pan cover red on the two bottom images.

Best,
m

Marcus den toom · 6th March 2014, 04:25 PM

Thank you Fernando K and Michael,

A very interesting system, it has a rotating pancover instead of the more known sliding version.

Did all of the early wheel locks have this rotating pancover or where there also other ideas? I noticed the warhammer with a sliding pancover in a early state of development if i may call it that.

6th March 2014, 03:53 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Marcus, It is as Fernando K said: There is a small, thin integral hook at the underside of the pan cover which reaches into a longitudinal slot at the inside of the wheel. When the wheel starts spinning back it pushes the pan cover open, which otherwise is kept on the pan by the pressure of a long, thin, one-armed spring. I tried to mark the arm of the pan cover red on the two bottom images. Best, m Attached Images

6th March 2014, 04:25 PM	#2
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	Thank you Fernando K and Michael, A very interesting system, it has a rotating pancover instead of the more known sliding version. Did all of the early wheel locks have this rotating pancover or where there also other ideas? I noticed the warhammer with a sliding pancover in a early state of development if i may call it that.