Insights of German Wheellock Mechanisms

Matchlock · 4th November 2011, 07:23 AM

For sporting guns and rifles, from top to bottom:

Nuremberg, ca. 1575, both outside and inside views, the first sadly inversed left to right

ca. 1650-60

ca. 1670-80

ca. 1735-40

Best,
Michael

rickystl · 6th November 2011, 10:50 PM

Hi Michael !!! Thanks for posting these great lock photos. Especially the very clear parts description. I saved that for future use. Thanks again, Rick..

Matchlock · 7th November 2011, 04:22 PM

Thank you, Rick!

m

fernando · 7th November 2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Michael !!! Thanks for posting these great lock photos. Especially the very clear parts description. I saved that for future use. Thanks again, Rick..

Ditto

Matchlock · 8th November 2011, 10:05 PM

Thank you too, 'Nando!

Michl

Pukka Bundook · 12th November 2011, 02:34 PM

Thank you for posting these pictures, Michael.

Very nice to see such well made solid locks, in such good order.

I was a bit surprised to see so much engraving on the internal face of the last one, but then again,... a wheellock has to be removed much more frequently than other locks for cleaning, so the inside would be appreciated each time it was dismounted!

Thank you again,
Richard.

Matchlock · 12th November 2011, 06:05 PM

Hi Richard,

It's been so good to hear from you again!

As to internal engravings on wheellocks, usually only the better quality locks - which were mostly used with sporting or hunting guns and rifles - have decorated internal mechanisms. However, from ca. 1650 to the end of the wheellock era in the late 18th c., such hidden decoration can be found relatively frequently, as all regular military use of wheellocks stopped by the end of the 17th c.

Best wishes, my friend,
Michael

4th November 2011, 07:23 AM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Insights of German Wheellock Mechanisms For sporting guns and rifles, from top to bottom: Nuremberg, ca. 1575, both outside and inside views, the first sadly inversed left to right ca. 1650-60 ca. 1670-80 ca. 1735-40 Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 4th November 2011 at 07:43 AM.

6th November 2011, 10:50 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Hi Michael !!! Thanks for posting these great lock photos. Especially the very clear parts description. I saved that for future use. Thanks again, Rick..

7th November 2011, 04:22 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thank you, Rick! m

8th November 2011, 10:05 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thank you too, 'Nando! Michl

12th November 2011, 02:34 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Thank you for posting these pictures, Michael. Very nice to see such well made solid locks, in such good order. I was a bit surprised to see so much engraving on the internal face of the last one, but then again,... a wheellock has to be removed much more frequently than other locks for cleaning, so the inside would be appreciated each time it was dismounted! Thank you again, Richard.

12th November 2011, 06:05 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Richard, It's been so good to hear from you again! As to internal engravings on wheellocks, usually only the better quality locks - which were mostly used with sporting or hunting guns and rifles - have decorated internal mechanisms. However, from ca. 1650 to the end of the wheellock era in the late 18th c., such hidden decoration can be found relatively frequently, as all regular military use of wheellocks stopped by the end of the 17th c. Best wishes, my friend, Michael