Matchlock Pistol

CutlassCollector · 26th June 2024, 05:45 PM

Forgive me if this is obvious, as my knowledge of firearms is limited, but am I correct in thinking, that even if it is a replica/forgery it is functional?

The cover for the pan is thumb operated to open it quickly and can even be screwed down to keep the powder dry. Or carried for short periods with the match lit.

The trigger would not operate a sear as we would normally expect but would instead move some sort of internal lever that pulled the match holder down onto the pan. Hence the space for a finger at the front and a long slot at the back to accommodate that movement.

It seems, as Udo has already said, a huge amount of work on the stock and the mechanism, to be just a display piece.

corrado26 · 27th June 2024, 08:23 AM

In Harold L. Peterson's book "Old Firearms" you can find a foto of a wheellockpistole made by Le Page in 1829. It is said that it probably has been made for target shooting because of the smooth acting wheellock without influence of the aiming process.
Perhaps the matchlockpistol in question has been made for the same purpose?

27th June 2024, 08:23 AM	#2
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,187	In Harold L. Peterson's book "Old Firearms" you can find a foto of a wheellockpistole made by Le Page in 1829. It is said that it probably has been made for target shooting because of the smooth acting wheellock without influence of the aiming process. Perhaps the matchlockpistol in question has been made for the same purpose? Attached Images

26th June 2024, 05:45 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 326	Forgive me if this is obvious, as my knowledge of firearms is limited, but am I correct in thinking, that even if it is a replica/forgery it is functional? The cover for the pan is thumb operated to open it quickly and can even be screwed down to keep the powder dry. Or carried for short periods with the match lit. The trigger would not operate a sear as we would normally expect but would instead move some sort of internal lever that pulled the match holder down onto the pan. Hence the space for a finger at the front and a long slot at the back to accommodate that movement. It seems, as Udo has already said, a huge amount of work on the stock and the mechanism, to be just a display piece.