A very rare combined wheel-lock pistol and dagger, ca. 1550-60

Matchlock · 14th June 2012, 11:25 AM

Sold at Bonhams, London.

The blade is missing.

The barrel and lock of characteristic mid-16th c. form, with the sickle-shaped dog spring running around the wheel, the left-hand end of the lock plate struck with an unrecorded maker's mark, a trefoil in a shield.

The highly figured form of the dog spring reminds of a similar on a combination firearm by Peter Peck, Munich, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y. (attached).

The catalog description states that the grip is 17th c. replacement; it looks o.k. to me for mid-16th c. though.

m

Matchlock · 14th June 2012, 11:58 AM

The top attachments show the weapon in the Met, the etching on the calendar blade by Ambrosius Gemlich of Munich, dated 1546.

Please note the similarities of the rear section of the barrel and the lock mechanism, especially the figured sickle-shaped dog spring, between the item in discussion and the Met piece.

The lock, in all probability, was also made in Munich, possibly by Peter Peck.

m

Matchlock · 14th June 2012, 12:04 PM

The remaining photos of this remarkable item.

The bottom image depicts the maker's mark.

Matchlock · 18th June 2012, 03:36 PM

I forgot to add that this is a rare caliber, ca. 120-bore, corresponding to ca. 8-9 mm.

m

14th June 2012, 11:25 AM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Combined Wheellock Pistol and Dagger, Bavaria, ca. 1550 Sold at Bonhams, London. The blade is missing. The barrel and lock of characteristic mid-16th c. form, with the sickle-shaped dog spring running around the wheel, the left-hand end of the lock plate struck with an unrecorded maker's mark, a trefoil in a shield. The highly figured form of the dog spring reminds of a similar on a combination firearm by Peter Peck, Munich, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y. (attached). The catalog description states that the grip is 17th c. replacement; it looks o.k. to me for mid-16th c. though. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th June 2012 at 12:08 PM.

14th June 2012, 11:58 AM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The top attachments show the weapon in the Met, the etching on the calendar blade by Ambrosius Gemlich of Munich, dated 1546. Please note the similarities of the rear section of the barrel and the lock mechanism, especially the figured sickle-shaped dog spring, between the item in discussion and the Met piece. The lock, in all probability, was also made in Munich, possibly by Peter Peck. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th June 2012 at 12:29 PM.

14th June 2012, 12:04 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The remaining photos of this remarkable item. The bottom image depicts the maker's mark. Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th June 2012 at 12:18 PM.

18th June 2012, 03:36 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Bore I forgot to add that this is a rare caliber, ca. 120-bore, corresponding to ca. 8-9 mm. m