Rubens hunter

kronckew · 3rd July 2015, 06:50 AM

i suspect there is a bit of artistic license in the depiction of the weapon in the painting (and of the dog

).

p.s. -i'd posted (as attachment) a large screen capture of the hunter so we'd have it available in case Miqueleter's link broke. i have since found a much larger image of the whole painting to cut the hunter from & attached it above instead.

p.s. - don't think that helped much, still too little detail of the lock.

Raf · 3rd July 2015, 10:10 AM

Sorry to labour the point . If we are going to assume the diagonal line across the lock plate is an external mainspring then in both miquelet and toe locks the mainspring starts being roughly horizontal , that is parallel with the barrel . Or in some migulet's slightly up hill . In the Minqulet since the spring acts on the rear of the cock at full cock it points either downhill or roughly horizontal . in a toe lock at full cock the mainspring points uphill which I think is what is shown in the painting . Yes, the miquelet shown is Albanian but the principles the same . Anyway , to help people make up their own mind here are a couple of aqujetas ; sorry I have lost the source of the painting but I think its Spanish and the other possible candidates which are italian locks .

For clarification the aqujeta was the Spanish version of the Italian toe lock or romanlock and may have been introduced from Italy. The defining characteristic of the aqujeta is the dog catch behind the cock used to resolve the half cock problem. The cock is pulled back beyond the full cock position and the dog catch pushed forward to engage with the cock . Pulling the cock backwards slightly automatically disengages the catch and the cock drops onto the horizontally moving full cock sear which engages with the rear foot of the cock .

Miqueleter · 4th July 2015, 05:19 AM

RAF, thanks for saving my bacon with your correct posting of images. For all others (Fernando K, fernando, and Jim, ever the Gentleman) my apologies for being stupid by using another forums image rules. I will do better in the future. I could lay it all on a recent illness, but I'd be fibbing.

I'm liking the responses to the post. Guessing what a painter knew or had at hand for reference objects is just that-guessing.

Again, thanks to all.

3rd July 2015, 06:50 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	i suspect there is a bit of artistic license in the depiction of the weapon in the painting (and of the dog). p.s. -i'd posted (as attachment) a large screen capture of the hunter so we'd have it available in case Miqueleter's link broke. i have since found a much larger image of the whole painting to cut the hunter from & attached it above instead. p.s. - don't think that helped much, still too little detail of the lock. Last edited by kronckew; 3rd July 2015 at 07:25 AM.

3rd July 2015, 10:10 AM	#2
Raf Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 252	Sorry to labour the point . If we are going to assume the diagonal line across the lock plate is an external mainspring then in both miquelet and toe locks the mainspring starts being roughly horizontal , that is parallel with the barrel . Or in some migulet's slightly up hill . In the Minqulet since the spring acts on the rear of the cock at full cock it points either downhill or roughly horizontal . in a toe lock at full cock the mainspring points uphill which I think is what is shown in the painting . Yes, the miquelet shown is Albanian but the principles the same . Anyway , to help people make up their own mind here are a couple of aqujetas ; sorry I have lost the source of the painting but I think its Spanish and the other possible candidates which are italian locks . For clarification the aqujeta was the Spanish version of the Italian toe lock or romanlock and may have been introduced from Italy. The defining characteristic of the aqujeta is the dog catch behind the cock used to resolve the half cock problem. The cock is pulled back beyond the full cock position and the dog catch pushed forward to engage with the cock . Pulling the cock backwards slightly automatically disengages the catch and the cock drops onto the horizontally moving full cock sear which engages with the rear foot of the cock . Attached Images Last edited by Raf; 3rd July 2015 at 02:48 PM.

4th July 2015, 05:19 AM	#3
Miqueleter Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 39	RAF, thanks for saving my bacon with your correct posting of images. For all others (Fernando K, fernando, and Jim, ever the Gentleman) my apologies for being stupid by using another forums image rules. I will do better in the future. I could lay it all on a recent illness, but I'd be fibbing. I'm liking the responses to the post. Guessing what a painter knew or had at hand for reference objects is just that-guessing. Again, thanks to all.