A blunderbuss with an early lock

Philip · 6th April 2016, 12:24 AM

Fernando,
Or I should say, not all dogs are created equal.
1. Norman could not be correct on this. The north European dog-lock, of which you have an example, is not developmentally connected to any of the dog-locks of the Mediterranean or Oriental worlds (the agujeta, the Sinhalese snap lock, etc) for the simple reason that the former has an internal mainspring, and all of the latter have external springs.

2. Furthermore, the sear (the assembly that releases the cock upon pull of trigger) is entirely internal on the northern dog-lock. It is a one-piece L shaped arm under spring tension, with studs that engage a tumbler or nut on the cock's axis bolt. The sear system on the agujeta (either the Hispanic or Algerian types) is a 2-piece assemblage with a stud or nose that engages the cock directly through an aperture in the lockplate; on this type of lock there is no tumbler. See Blackmore, pp 112-15 for text and diagrams.

3. I'm not sure whether the Sinhalese snaplock is a direct descendant of the agujeta. A comparison of the sear systems is in order, and I can't find this aspect illustrated in any of my reference books. Lavin's article "Spanish Agujeta-lock Firearms" in ART, ARMS AND ARMOUR (ed. Robert Held, 1979) emphasizes that the Iberian version typically has a wheellock-derived lockplate profile -- trapezoidal with an obtuse point at the bottom, AND is equipped with two bridles or support bridges for the cock and frizzen pivot screws. The Sinhalese lock has a different plate and lacks a frizzen bridle. Daehnhardt, in ESPINGARDA FEITICEIRA, contends that the Sinhalese lock originates with the Italian miquelet "alla romana" which may well be the case. Again, a comparison of the sear design will help resolve this.

Note that the trapzoidal lockplate is absent on the Algerian version of the agujeta although functionally it remains the same, and even inherits the big alligator jaws and the wing-top screw on the cock of the later Spanish versions. From this we can expect some stylistic changes when the Sinhalese developed their snaplock, whether it be from prototypes originating in Spain, Italy, or even Portugal.

Sorry if this sounds so convoluted and geeky, if you need any clarification please let me know.

fernando · 6th April 2016, 04:43 PM

O.K. Philip, i get it; not the scholar technicalities but that, my sheep has nothing to do with the goats, meaning the dog lock is a system per se.
So i retire to my corner and thank you for your input

.

.

Fernando K · 6th April 2016, 07:43 PM

Hello

Corrado, it would be interesting to know if besides the safety hook (dog-lock), the nut has also tooth half-cock. You could upload photographs inside the lock? Thank you

affectionately. Fernando K

corrado26 · 7th April 2016, 08:09 AM

Quote:

You could upload photographs inside the lock?

As all of the shown firearms are sold meanwhile I only can post fotos existing in my archive. But what I can say is that all these dog locks have a half-cock tooth at the tumbler.
corrado26

Fernando K · 7th April 2016, 04:08 PM

Hello

Thank you, Corrado. The photographs do not let you see the tooth in half-cock nut, but I trust in your word. Then the dog-lock would be an additional safety means.

Affectionately. Fernando K

Fernando K · 7th April 2016, 09:09 PM

Hello
Now I think of a question. The safety hook (lock.dog) not being commanded by a spring and automatically removed (as in agugetalock or lock Ceylan) can not be engaged and prevent the shot to reach full-cock?
Affectionately. Fernando K

fernando · 7th April 2016, 10:24 PM

Yes Fernando, i have read that this would be a handicap of this system (some article in castillian, don't remember where).
The author said the catch could be a problem in either being too tight and difficultate the full cocking or being too lose and... i don't recall the precise words.

6th April 2016, 12:24 AM	#1
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	separating the sheep from the goats Fernando, Or I should say, not all dogs are created equal. 1. Norman could not be correct on this. The north European dog-lock, of which you have an example, is not developmentally connected to any of the dog-locks of the Mediterranean or Oriental worlds (the agujeta, the Sinhalese snap lock, etc) for the simple reason that the former has an internal mainspring, and all of the latter have external springs. 2. Furthermore, the sear (the assembly that releases the cock upon pull of trigger) is entirely internal on the northern dog-lock. It is a one-piece L shaped arm under spring tension, with studs that engage a tumbler or nut on the cock's axis bolt. The sear system on the agujeta (either the Hispanic or Algerian types) is a 2-piece assemblage with a stud or nose that engages the cock directly through an aperture in the lockplate; on this type of lock there is no tumbler. See Blackmore, pp 112-15 for text and diagrams. 3. I'm not sure whether the Sinhalese snaplock is a direct descendant of the agujeta. A comparison of the sear systems is in order, and I can't find this aspect illustrated in any of my reference books. Lavin's article "Spanish Agujeta-lock Firearms" in ART, ARMS AND ARMOUR (ed. Robert Held, 1979) emphasizes that the Iberian version typically has a wheellock-derived lockplate profile -- trapezoidal with an obtuse point at the bottom, AND is equipped with two bridles or support bridges for the cock and frizzen pivot screws. The Sinhalese lock has a different plate and lacks a frizzen bridle. Daehnhardt, in ESPINGARDA FEITICEIRA, contends that the Sinhalese lock originates with the Italian miquelet "alla romana" which may well be the case. Again, a comparison of the sear design will help resolve this. Note that the trapzoidal lockplate is absent on the Algerian version of the agujeta although functionally it remains the same, and even inherits the big alligator jaws and the wing-top screw on the cock of the later Spanish versions. From this we can expect some stylistic changes when the Sinhalese developed their snaplock, whether it be from prototypes originating in Spain, Italy, or even Portugal. Sorry if this sounds so convoluted and geeky, if you need any clarification please let me know.

6th April 2016, 04:43 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	O.K. Philip, i get it; not the scholar technicalities but that, my sheep has nothing to do with the goats, meaning the dog lock is a system per se. So i retire to my corner and thank you for your input . . Last edited by fernando; 4th February 2023 at 10:49 AM. Reason: Spell

6th April 2016, 07:43 PM	#3
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello Corrado, it would be interesting to know if besides the safety hook (dog-lock), the nut has also tooth half-cock. You could upload photographs inside the lock? Thank you affectionately. Fernando K

7th April 2016, 04:08 PM	#5
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello Thank you, Corrado. The photographs do not let you see the tooth in half-cock nut, but I trust in your word. Then the dog-lock would be an additional safety means. Affectionately. Fernando K

7th April 2016, 09:09 PM	#6
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello Now I think of a question. The safety hook (lock.dog) not being commanded by a spring and automatically removed (as in agugetalock or lock Ceylan) can not be engaged and prevent the shot to reach full-cock? Affectionately. Fernando K

7th April 2016, 10:24 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Yes Fernando, i have read that this would be a handicap of this system (some article in castillian, don't remember where). The author said the catch could be a problem in either being too tight and difficultate the full cocking or being too lose and... i don't recall the precise words.