A Spanish escopeta

[celtan]

A Miguelete in 1840? By this time, most Spain had switched to the French lock.

How about an 18th C reworked Flintlock, converted to Percussion ?

Who was Juan Rodriguez?

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Fernando,
I see you've now changed to miniature calibre firearms . On a more serious note, that is really a very nice piece! I'm not up on older firearms but the overall shape looks to be of an earlier form than 1840? I have the perfect blank shape on my wall should you ever tire of looking at it .
My Regards,
Norman.

[fernando]

Hola Manolin

Originally Posted by celtan

... A Miguelete in 1840? By this time, most Spain had switched to the French lock ... How about an 18th C reworked Flintlock, converted to Percussion ? ...

I doubt it.
I had already heard in the grapevines that the caplock Miqueletes remained in use up to the advent of the catridge (1835). Considering this in a general manner, i wouldn't be surprised that some provincial gunsmith still made some pecimens in 1840, be it for nostalgic reasons from either himself or an exquisite customer.
I guess that, in weapons as also in other technologies, the introduction of new techniques doesn't necessarily demobilize the previous ones... look at me, so literate .
Amazingly the last flintlock weapon made in Portugal was the copy of the New Land Pattern pistol, produced in the Army Arsenal, dated 1846.

Originally Posted by celtan

...Who was Juan Rodriguez? ...

Good question; i was expecting you to tell me .
It appears that gunsmiths (or other craftsmen) only come listed if they work in the country capitals or similar metropolis; who would know a couple 'handy' brothers from a Huelva little village.
But i am not particulary sad for that; at least the piece is not marked with a false name, 'borrowed' from a famous master, like so often happens.
Obviously i would love to their name somewhere .
Fernando