Spanish Blunderbuss Questions

[dana_w]

Thanks Rick. You make some very good points, many of which support my own doubts about the Ottoman-Turkish connection.

I am hoping that someone here will recognize the maker. That would certainly help date the weapon. I want it to be mid 18th Century, but it could easily date to the early 19th Century.

[fernando]

Rather pertinent points raised by Rick. I took some time to search for the name in the lock, which postponed my additional post in that i was going to comment on the swivel sling hook and the stock profile, the first very much the European style (Spanish and Portuguese as i recall) and the second also Iberian style ... that not the typical 'boot shaped' often seen in Catalonian 'trabucos'. However the name JOAN in the lock has a Catalonian spell; Castillian would be JUAN. I can find no name or tanslation for BOP; it just sounds strange.
I am not enough within this subject but, my doubts would remain about the general decoration. Is it a crescent moon on the barrel band ? In all this band doesn't seem to me a typical Spanish addition; but i wouldn't stand to oppose Rick's impressions. However i tend to be influenced by a determined taste that Turkish/Ottoman (and not only) have to give an European touch to (imported) guns.
Back to the name in the lock, i have found a personality (born 1592 executed 1634) called Joan Sala, later added Serrallonga (after his wife's name), a famous Catalonian bandolero (burglar, highwayman, gang leader) who became a mythical figure, so that still in the XIX century a dramatic play of his life was staged.
Giving wings to imagination, if the name in that lock is not that of a smith but an allusion to a romanticized hero, here you have one .


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[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

ck. I took some time to search for the name in the lock ... i have found a personality (born 1592 executed 1634) called Joan Sala, later added Serrallonga (after his wife's name), a famous Catalonian bandolero (burglar, highwayman, gang leader) who became a mythical figure, so that still in the XIX century a dramatic play of his life was staged.
Giving wings to imagination, if the name in that lock is not that of a smith but an allusion to a romanticized hero, here you have one .
.

Thanks for the additional information Fernando. Here are a few more images to ponder.

[Fernando K]

Dana

It should be considered if it is not DEOP. In the work of LAVIN shows the stamp of Deop, and is abbreviated as Dop. Do not dustungue well the inscription

Fernando K

[Fernando K]

Dana

The D also contains the E. It was frequent in the military shells, to abbreviate space, this method

Fernando K

[fernando]

Bingo, Tocayo .
Although Joan Deop is neither one listed in Lavin's work, he is surely one of the same Ripoll family of lockmakers, as checked. One of his production was dated XVIII century.
But then, may we infer that, the other name associated (Y) in the lock, SALA, was his partner in the production of the discussed lock ... or was this his full name later in life ?
Also interesting to note that, the pistol made by his relative Llorenz Deop, as mentioned by Lavin, had an Oriental barrel.

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[fernando]

...Or is everybody forgering this family's famous name ?

http://armsandantiques.com/superb-18...oan-deop-ef992

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by fernando

Bingo, Tocayo .
Although Joan Deop is neither one listed in Lavin's work, he is surely one of the same Ripoll family of lockmakers, as checked. One of his production was dated XVIII century.
But then, may we infer that, the other name associated (Y) in the lock, SALA, was his partner in the production of the discussed lock ... or was this his full name later in life ?
Also interesting to note that, the pistol made by his relative Llorenz Deop, as mentioned by Lavin, had an Oriental barrel.

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The Deop lock pictured in your post actually is from our collection. I took the photo about five years ago.

http://weaponscollector.com/peresteva_c1730.php

It would be nice to able to believe the Blunder had any connection with the Deop family, but that seems fanciful.