Miquelet Percussion Pistol for ID and Comment

[Jim McDougall]

Beautiful pistol !
As someone not well initiated in firearms, may I ask what is the definition or description of the term miguelet in these weapons? I know it has to do with the lock, but is it a certain characteristic or simply alternate term?
I had always thought they were flintlock as opposed to percussion.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Beautiful pistol !
As someone not well initiated in firearms, may I ask what is the definition or description of the term miguelet in these weapons? I know it has to do with the lock, but is it a certain characteristic or simply alternate term?
I had always thought they were flintlock as opposed to percussion.

Hi Jim,
Miquelet refers to the style of lock and can be found in either flint or percussion.
Here is some info for you on various types/styles of locks.
Stu

[David R]

Thank you for this excellent explanation of the different gun lock types. Which has cleared up a detail that was bothering me about the gun at the top of the thread.

[Fernando K]

Hello

In the description of the "fashionable Madrid" miquetete there are several errors. The chock C is not half-cock, but is for full-cock, and conversely, the front chock is the one that acts in half-cock. In addition, the firing is not achieved by means of the spring appendix, but by means of a bar

Affectionately

[Fernando K]

Hi Jim

The miquelete is located in the Mediterranean area, it has had many variants, according to the country of construction, and all variants have been reciprocally influenced: the "agujeta" the Spanish miquelete, the Portuguese specimens, the Roman lock, the Arabian miquelete or "a la morlaca" and the "fashionable Madrid" lock and the "three fashion" lock.

Neal and Lavin have taken care of the Spanish miqueletes.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

Hi Jim

The miquelete is located in the Mediterranean area, it has had many variants, according to the country of construction, and all variants have been reciprocally influenced: the "agujeta" the Spanish miquelete, the Portuguese specimens, the Roman lock, the Arabian miquelete or "a la morlaca" and the "fashionable Madrid" lock and the "three fashion" lock.

Neal and Lavin have taken care of the Spanish miqueletes.

Hi Fernando,
I have no doubt that the details shown do not cover all variants of a particular lock type. Just posted to show that there are many different types of lock in existence.
I have checked the third screw on the counter plate and can tell you it serves no purpose. I do agree though that there was probably a belt hook at some stage. I will have to see if I can find a suitable one to replace it.
Stu

[fernando]

With the invention of the percussion cap (Forsyth) in the first quarter XIX century, there has been an authentic race for flintlock to percussion conversion, both by military as by civilian, as the advantage was tremendous. The massive run must have been by the 1830's. A number of conversion methods were carried out, some ingenious and some clumsy, military being stronger and more perfect versions,
This to say that, when you see a Miquelete with a percussion system, you think twice before you assume whether it was born like that or was result of a conversion.
Here is one of mine which (to me) was born for percussion.

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