A blunderbuss with an early lock

[Pukka Bundook]

Iskender,

I don't want to belabour the issue, but a normal dog -catch can't just be pulled back at half cock, and when the lock is full cocked, the action of cocking automatically slides the dog catch back over, out of the way.

I think this is a very neat feature and something of a minor mechanical delight!

Best wishes, Richard.

[fernando]

Gentlemen,

The issue here is not when the dog works conveniently but when things don't run smoothly. As first noted by Fernando K and later by Philip, the dog catch, not working under spring tension, depends on 'harmony' factors, like being too tight or too loose and all that. As that Spanish author recalled, and brought to my own wording, it might not circumstancialy be in the mood to fully cooperate with the firing action. I relize that, holding the gun upwards helps 'convincing' the dog to easier disengage, for reasons connected to gravity.

Well Philip, i know the easy way to engage and disengage the dog catch but, i can't do it properly by my own, left handed i am ... you know

[iskender]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Iskender,

I don't want to belabour the issue, but a normal dog -catch can't just be pulled back at half cock, and when the lock is full cocked, the action of cocking automatically slides the dog catch back over, out of the way.

I think this is a very neat feature and something of a minor mechanical delight!

Best wishes, Richard.

dear richard with the gun i have in my hands now , i can pull the safety back with my thumb in the full cocked position and with a fully hookt in safetycatch. i can not take the gun apart and look inside at the lock as it is in a good untouched working conditon and i dont want to destroy its antique appearence.also my english is horrible and it is difficult to discuss mecanical ways how somethings may work or not ! it is never my attention to "bullshit " other collectors in any way with wrong information when possible. thanks to you and a good afternoon to all iskender

[Pukka Bundook]

Iskender,

I apologise for my last post, what I meant is that when working as it was designed,....new even, it Should dis-engage itself when full cocked.

Again, my apologies. I know you would never give false information!

Best wishes,
Richard.

[fernando]

[Philip]

Fernando,
I like the way you explained things. The way you put it, it reminds me of the issues connected with getting some real dogs to do your bidding, on occasion!

To all you gentlemen, thank you for the info which you've provided in response to my question
Philip

[fernando]

Obrigado, Philip .

[iskender]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Iskender,

I apologise for my last post, what I meant is that when working as it was designed,....new even, it Should dis-engage itself when full cocked.

Again, my apologies. I know you would never give false information!

Best wishes,
Richard.

good evening, no apoloigizes needed in no way and matter. I`m just trying to find out what i have in my hands myself in front of me. I have never in my life even thought about the the funktion of a doglock ,it lookt to my as any doglock in the world in that period, i regarded it just as a early flintlockrifle very common in europa and had it in a box in the ware house. the gun i have has a 1:1 Gunlock as the example of fernando with the barrel stamped with two oval british marks.As fernando says "the harmony faktors " are a very important detail, as these things where made all fom hand after a certain given pattern, so every lock in itself is unique and depended on the skill of the gunmaker. greeting iskender

[fernando]

Tamam, Iskender .

[fernando]

So, i was crossing some information towards checking a (possibly) faded mark on my bronze barreled blunderbuss, and what do i find ? Confirmation that guns with a dog lock system were indeed (also) made in Portugal. The place is Barcarena, where Royal smithy facilities were first implemented in 1487 for the purpose of arms making, having circa 1618-1619 taken place the first factory of black gun powder.
We can see in THIS CATALOGUE, besides other illustrations, that of a naval bronze barreled blunderbuss from the middle of the XVII century, "which could shoot nine bullets connected by a chain, with purpose to tear the rig of enemy ships".


.

[M ELEY]

Now, that's what I'm talking about!! Sorry, couldn't resist- As I mentioned, brass and bronze blunderbuss, particularly those on a swivel (rail gun) very popular with the naval men. Quite surprised to see one loaded with anti-rigging chain-shot!