Spanish Cavalry Pistol with Patilla Style Miquelet Lock 1808-1812
 

Here are some photos of a Spanish cavalry pistol with a patilla style miquelet lock. It was made in Valencia 1808-1812. The pistol is marked “Fa.Va.” (Fabrica de Valencia) and “L.L” (doblemente leal=LL=doubly loyal). The emblem of Valencia (a rhombus with vertical lines under crown) is also stamped on the barrel.

Juan L. Calvó depicts a similar pistol on page 68 of his book “Armamento Español en la Guerra de Independencia”.

The pistol has a belt hook. I am looking for any illustrations of Spanish cavalry carrying this style pistol in a baldric, saddle or horse holster.

This pistol may have been in use during the Spanish War of Independence 1808-1814 (Guerra de la Independencia Española).

Here in on the east coast of Florida we were nearing the end of the second Spanish period 1783-1821. In 1812 the United States began conducted a clandestine war with the Spanish in Florida. The conflict is know as the Patriot War.

The Mexican War of Independence began in 1810 and ended in 1821. From 1811 to 1813. Spanish cavalry gained and lost control of the Alamo several times.

Photos Copyright © 2010-2013 Dana K. Williams All Rights Reserved

Estimado Dana:

La llave (lock) es "a las 3 modas". Del miquelete, toma el resorte mayor actuando hacia arriba, el "gatillo" (cock) y el tornillo pedrero (flint screw) con aro, y el sistema de disparo. De la llave a francesa, toma la brida del rastrillo fija a la cazoleta (pan) y el rastrillo (steel) redondeado y curvo (si bien está estriado como en el miquelete). De la llave "a la romana", toma la disposición del resorte del rastrillo (encima del muelle real), si bien está fijado como en el miquelete, por oreja pasante y no por tornillo.

Afectuosamente. Fernando K

Dear Dana:

Key (lock) is "at 3 fashions". Del miquelete takes more acting spring up, the "trigger" (cock) and screw scree (flint screw) with hoop, and the trigger system. Key to French takes rake flange fixed to the bowl (pan) and rake (steel) rounded and curved (but is striated as in miquelete). Key "to the Roman", takes the rake spring arrangement (mainspring above), although it is fixed as in the miquelete by ear and not by screw intern.

Affectionately. Fernando K

Sorry Fernando K, I am not sure what you are trying to tell me.

Maybe you wouldn't call this a patilla style lock. It is certainly a late example. The frizzen / battery spring is forward of the pan and has no bridle, but it still looks like a patilla to me.

Dear Dana:

LAVIN, page 184:

......while the common patilla-a las tres modas cost only nine.

Fernando K

Hey Fernando K,

Looking at page 184, even Dr. Lavin could not follow the “greatly revised nomenclature” that replaced that of Espinar. He says “..the traditional miquelet (patilla) now called, for some obscure reason, a las tres modas”.

Way too OBSCURE for me. :shrug:


Miqueleter thoughtfully provided me two modern illustrations from Spanish Army Of The Napoleonic Wars Volume 2 1808-1812. One image shows a belt pistol worn on a waist belt, and the other shows two belt pistols hooked to the front of a sash.

Dr. Lavin used this image which shows a baldric (Xarpa) with belt pistols.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...de_tabacos.jpg

*** Are there any other contemporary illustrations out there? ***

Miqueleter also sent me some additional information on Model 1791 locks and pistols. It comes from the book Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700–1821. One of the authors is Herman Benninghoff. He also wrote a great article for the American Society of Arms Collectors titled Some Spanish Weapons in the American Revolution. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11084

Estimado Dana:

LAVIN no ha llegado a comprender la "patilla-a las tres modas" y ha catalogado el nombre por una "obscura razón". pero en el Apendice A, pagina 239, sobre la "Tarifa de los precios arreglados vajo (bajo) los cuales se ha de executar (ejecutar) la Obra de las Armas del Rey Nuestro Señor por sus Arcabuceros" (1750)

Una llave (lock) a las tres modas concluída según se acostumbra, nueve Doblones cencillos (sencillos)......

Plantilla (plate) con el Estribillo (bridge) en la Cazoleta (pan)....

Estribillo (bridge) del Gatillo (cock)......

Tampoco su glosario es perfecto. Espinar escribió en el 1600, y la "patilla a las tres modas" no existía.

Como ejemplo, dos errores evidentes:

Pagina 287: "Juegos al revés" definido como platina trasera (back action). Es una llave (lock) a la moda con los calzos (sear) invertidos.

Página 289: "Portavís", definido como banda del cañón (barrel band). Es la contraplatina (side plate)

Respecto de la llave clasificada como modelo 1791, en realidad corresponde a la carabina modelo 1802 para artilleros:

"Es de chispa, con llave (lock) de miquelete de cazoleta (pan) de latón......"

BARCELO RUBI "Armamento Portatil Español, 1764-1939", pagina 162

Afectuosamente. Fernando K

Dear Dana:

LAVIN has failed to understand the "pin-to three modes" and has listed the name of a "dark reason." but in Appendix A, page 239, on the "fixed rate prices vajo (low) which has of executing (execute) the work of the King's Arms for its Arcabuceros Lord" (1750)

A key (lock) at three Concluded as customary fashion, nine cencillos Doubloon (simple) ......

Template (plate) with the Chorus (bridge) in the pan (bread) ....

Chorus (bridge) Trigger (cock) ...... Dear Dana:

LAVIN has failed to understand the "pin-to three modes" and has listed the name of a "dark reason." but in Appendix A, page 239, on the "fixed rate prices vajo (low) which has of executing (execute) the work of the King's Arms for its Arcabuceros Lord" (1750)

A key (lock) at three Concluded as customary fashion, nine cencillos Doubloon (simple) ......

Template (plate) with the Chorus (bridge) in the pan (bread) ....

Chorus (bridge) Trigger (cock) ......

Neither your glossary is perfect. Espinar wrote in 1600, and "pin the three fashion" did not exist.

As an example, two obvious errors:

Page 287: "Games backwards" defined as back plate (back action). It is a key (lock) to fashion with the shims (SEAR) invested.

Page 289: "Portavís" defined as a band of the barrel (barrel band). Is contraplatina (side plate)

Regarding the key classified as model 1791, actually corresponds to the 1802 model for artillery carbine:

"Is spark, lockable (lock) of miquelete trough (pan) brass ......"

BARCELO RUBI "Laptop Spanish Armament, 1764-1939", page 162

Affectionately. Fernando K

Neither your glossary is perfect. Espinar wrote in 1600, and "pin the three fashion" did not exist.

As an example, two obvious errors:

Page 287: "Games backwards" defined as back plate (back action). It is a key (lock) to fashion with the shims (SEAR) invested.

Page 289: "Portavís" defined as a band of the barrel (barrel band). Is contraplatina (side plate)

Regarding the key classified as model 1791, actually corresponds to the 1802 model for artillery carbine:

"Is spark, lockable (lock) of miquelete trough (pan) brass ......"

BARCELO RUBI "Laptop Spanish Armament, 1764-1939", page 162

Affectionately. Fernando K
Traductor de Google para empresas:Translator ToolkitTraductor de sitios webGlobal Market Finder

Fernando K, Please see the first post. Juan L. Calvó tells me this is a cavalry pistol made at the Valencia Factory (1808-1812). It may just be the lanyard ring that makes it a "cavalry pistol".

I don't have a copy of “Armamento Español en la Guerra de Independencia”, so I can't check Juan L. Calvó's photos. Do you have a copy? Does anyone have a copy? They only printed a limited edition of 1,000.

The lock looks a lot like the one labeled Model 1791 in Benninghoff's Spanish Weapons in the American Revolution and the one shown in plate 65 from the Scollard Collection.

Can you post some photos of BARCELO RUBI "Laptop Spanish Armament, 1764-1939", page 162?

Dana et al

Allow me to quote Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821 page 31 "In 1791 Spanish officials ordered a change in the lock for all military firearms." All military firearms would seem to include the musket, carbine, and pistol for infantry, artillery, and cavalry, I should think. Of course the lock size would vary according to type of firearm. The brass pan was incorporated in the 1791 pattern lock. As Fernando K points out, the 1791 could be defined as a "a las tres modas." While Dr. Lavin didn't go out of his way to promote the "a las tres modas", he apparently foresaw the need to provide qualification on the term, hence, the "patilla-a las tres modas."

Dana, I have found a miquelet lock pistol, military type, with a look-a-like lanyard loop on Calvo's website, when I find it again, I'll send PM.

Respectfully and Best Regards, miqueleter

Dear Dana:

I have not a copy of "Armamento Español en la Guerra de la Indpendencia" by Calvó.

I post some photos and text of BARCELO RUBI, page 162

Fernando K

Here are pages 68 AND 69 of Calvó's work, which i have de honor to have been offered a copy signed by the author.
It is such a pity that i wasn't around to give a few touch ups to Fernando K posts, as the translation engines, specially when dealing with technical terms, often betray you a lot.


.

You mean item 5# of page 162 ? The picture is not so clear :shrug: -

.

Thanks so much Fernando! :)

The pistol on page 68 of Calvó's book is a good match. Now if I could just find some contemporary illustrations of Spanish cavalry carrying this style pistol.

Dear Fernando

On page 163, photo of the lock.....

Fernando K

Still no contemporary illustrations, but here is one Miqueleter found on-line. It's from ELS EXERCITS DE CATALUNYA (1713-1714).

Just for the fun of it ;)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Miquelets3.jpg

.