Two good Thurinigian Matchlock Muskets, ca. 1630 and ca. 1650

Matchlock · 30th November 2008, 01:50 PM

The one with the blackened beech-wood full stock, fish-tail buttstock and with Suhl marks on the barrel and lock plate, ca. 1630; overall length 141 cm, cal. 19.6 mm smoothbore. Original ramroad.

The one with the brown beech-wood full stock, "modern" belly buttstock and with Zella marks on the barrel, ca. 1650; overall length 136 cm, cal. 19.5 mm smoothbore. Original ramrod.

Both muskets are preserved in remarkably good condition for almost 400 year old military arms.

Both buttstocks bear arsenal marks: the 1630 musket is branded with the arsenal mark of the armory of the Veste Coburg where hundreds of almost identical pieces are still preserved today, the other with the initials CVS within a heart (unidentified).

The town of Suhl/Thuringia, together with all their arms workshops, got completely burnt down at the height of the Thirty Years War, in 1636. The formerly huge firearms production center was not to recover for some 20 years. That was the chance for the nearby town of Zella (aka Zella-Mehlis, Zella-St. Blasii) to take over and develop a somewhat bigger arms production than it used to have before.

As is the case with all Central European matchlocks, the pans are dovetailed to the barrel, as are the sights.

Please note the pics showing the dovetail for the pan of the 1650 Zellla musket and the detached pan. It detaches quite easly while being blocked by the stock when mounted.

Michael

30th November 2008, 01:50 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two good Thurinigian Matchlock Muskets, ca. 1630 and ca. 1650 The one with the blackened beech-wood full stock, fish-tail buttstock and with Suhl marks on the barrel and lock plate, ca. 1630; overall length 141 cm, cal. 19.6 mm smoothbore. Original ramroad. The one with the brown beech-wood full stock, "modern" belly buttstock and with Zella marks on the barrel, ca. 1650; overall length 136 cm, cal. 19.5 mm smoothbore. Original ramrod. Both muskets are preserved in remarkably good condition for almost 400 year old military arms. Both buttstocks bear arsenal marks: the 1630 musket is branded with the arsenal mark of the armory of the Veste Coburg where hundreds of almost identical pieces are still preserved today, the other with the initials CVS within a heart (unidentified). The town of Suhl/Thuringia, together with all their arms workshops, got completely burnt down at the height of the Thirty Years War, in 1636. The formerly huge firearms production center was not to recover for some 20 years. That was the chance for the nearby town of Zella (aka Zella-Mehlis, Zella-St. Blasii) to take over and develop a somewhat bigger arms production than it used to have before. As is the case with all Central European matchlocks, the pans are dovetailed to the barrel, as are the sights. Please note the pics showing the dovetail for the pan of the 1650 Zellla musket and the detached pan. It detaches quite easly while being blocked by the stock when mounted. Michael Attached Images