Matchlock Arquebus

Matchlock · 7th December 2011, 05:40 PM

Hi Simon,

Your assumptions were almost exactly right:

Your composite arquebus consists of an early South German (almost certainly Nuremberg made) Landsknecht arquebus barrel; the way the barrel is staged - the first, rear stage seems to be round - assigns it to the 1520's-30's. The original long barrel tang and rear sight have been removed, and the pan is of Italian ca. 1570's type. The lock and stock are quite crude modern reconstructions and do not meet the correct style: while the lock is of incorrect 1630's style the stock vaguely recalls 1580's Italian stocks. As the stock is new the lock cannot be a replacement.

If you are interested in original Landsknecht arquebuses of ca. 1520-25, 1539 and ca. 1540 please see my threads

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...necht+arquebus

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...echt+harquebus

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...echt+harquebus

Best,
Michael

gbxfb · 8th December 2011, 01:59 PM

Many thanks to Fernando and Michael for their kind and rapid response to my post.

I was sold this gun as a 17th Century composite piece, however, I suspected the barrel was significantly earlier and it is gratifying to have this confirmed by Michael. It is interesting that Michael says that the pan and cover are 1570's Italian in style. The pan and cover are integral with the lock plate, which I realize is not remotely obvious from my poor photographs!

This lock is rather a conundrum. When I bought this piece I dismissed it as of relatively recent manufacture as is the stock, however on close examination it does have some considerable age to it and its action is as good as any I have examined, a good working lock. The sear bar and serpentine crank are of wrought iron construction and show signs of de-lamination which I have seen on English locks of the Civil War period. I have taken some close up pictures of the lock which I hope illustrate this and emailed them to Fernando. When I mentioned earlier that I thought that the lock could be associated with the barrel, it was only because of the considerable care taken to match it to the barrel profile and the work is old. This led me to wonder if the re-stocker found them together in some old wormed stock which we would have conserved! Fanciful maybe, but on reading Michael's threads on how these guns were kept serviceable and were modified for hundreds of years after their original manufacture, even to the fitting of percussion locks, who knows.

The quality of this barrel is a testimony to the skills of the Nuremberg barrel makers who forged it nearly five hundred years ago, but I was wondering
whether it was intended for a martial or civilian piece?

Best regards,
Simon.

Matchlock · 9th December 2011, 04:32 PM

Simon,

Believe me: the lock and stock were made in the early 20th century at best, disregading the 'aged' patina and the fact that the lock parts are of wrought iron. Italian forgers 'workshops' did that at large (and still do). They result is often unbelievably good for the inexperienced eye. You must have dismantled and compared a great number of original matchlocks, studied their quality and compared them with forgeries in order to at once judge the differences.

As I said, the barrel was certainly taken from a Landsknecht (mercenary) arquebus, so its original destination was 'military'.

The sad fact is that your 'arquebus' is a crudely composite piece and, in its present shape and to the inexperienced eye, vaguely tries to convey the impression of an Italian 1570-80's matchlock musket but is of incorrect shape, weight and length. Italian (and German) original muskets of that period had fish-tail buttstocks, were at least 1.58 m long and weighed 8 kg and more (sample attached).

Best,
Michael

9th December 2011, 04:32 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Simon, Believe me: the lock and stock were made in the early 20th century at best, disregading the 'aged' patina and the fact that the lock parts are of wrought iron. Italian forgers 'workshops' did that at large (and still do). They result is often unbelievably good for the inexperienced eye. You must have dismantled and compared a great number of original matchlocks, studied their quality and compared them with forgeries in order to at once judge the differences. As I said, the barrel was certainly taken from a Landsknecht (mercenary) arquebus, so its original destination was 'military'. The sad fact is that your 'arquebus' is a crudely composite piece and, in its present shape and to the inexperienced eye, vaguely tries to convey the impression of an Italian 1570-80's matchlock musket but is of incorrect shape, weight and length. Italian (and German) original muskets of that period had fish-tail buttstocks, were at least 1.58 m long and weighed 8 kg and more (sample attached). Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 9th December 2011 at 04:45 PM.

7th December 2011, 05:40 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Simon, Your assumptions were almost exactly right: Your composite arquebus consists of an early South German (almost certainly Nuremberg made) Landsknecht arquebus barrel; the way the barrel is staged - the first, rear stage seems to be round - assigns it to the 1520's-30's. The original long barrel tang and rear sight have been removed, and the pan is of Italian ca. 1570's type. The lock and stock are quite crude modern reconstructions and do not meet the correct style: while the lock is of incorrect 1630's style the stock vaguely recalls 1580's Italian stocks. As the stock is new the lock cannot be a replacement. If you are interested in original Landsknecht arquebuses of ca. 1520-25, 1539 and ca. 1540 please see my threads http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...necht+arquebus http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...echt+harquebus http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...echt+harquebus Best, Michael

8th December 2011, 01:59 PM	#2
gbxfb Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 11	Many thanks to Fernando and Michael for their kind and rapid response to my post. I was sold this gun as a 17th Century composite piece, however, I suspected the barrel was significantly earlier and it is gratifying to have this confirmed by Michael. It is interesting that Michael says that the pan and cover are 1570's Italian in style. The pan and cover are integral with the lock plate, which I realize is not remotely obvious from my poor photographs! This lock is rather a conundrum. When I bought this piece I dismissed it as of relatively recent manufacture as is the stock, however on close examination it does have some considerable age to it and its action is as good as any I have examined, a good working lock. The sear bar and serpentine crank are of wrought iron construction and show signs of de-lamination which I have seen on English locks of the Civil War period. I have taken some close up pictures of the lock which I hope illustrate this and emailed them to Fernando. When I mentioned earlier that I thought that the lock could be associated with the barrel, it was only because of the considerable care taken to match it to the barrel profile and the work is old. This led me to wonder if the re-stocker found them together in some old wormed stock which we would have conserved! Fanciful maybe, but on reading Michael's threads on how these guns were kept serviceable and were modified for hundreds of years after their original manufacture, even to the fitting of percussion locks, who knows. The quality of this barrel is a testimony to the skills of the Nuremberg barrel makers who forged it nearly five hundred years ago, but I was wondering whether it was intended for a martial or civilian piece? Best regards, Simon.