Old or new?

rickystl · 29th June 2019, 06:32 PM

Later Tourist Pistol

Philip · 1st July 2019, 09:57 PM

Mr Corrado,
May I contribute a comment on the very first pistol, shown in several views, at the top of this thread --

I'm glad that you provided images of the lock because from this, I believe the gun to most likely be Indo-Portuguese, perhaps made by an artisan in Goa. Not only from the décor which has elements seen in furnishings and decorative arts from there, but more importantly, the construction of the lock itself.

The flintlock has all the characteristics of a uniquely Portuguese style of flintlock called a fecho de nó ( "knot" lock, unfortunately I do not know the etymology of this rather unusual term -- Fernando, can you help me out?) Characteristics include an internal mainspring with a typical "French" flintlock tumbler and sear arrangement (with half-cock detent, not the external Portuguese "brake" or swiveling safety dog). The odd "humpback" single leaf frizzen spring is also typically and perhaps uniquely Portuguese.

The fecho de nó originated in late 17th cent. Portugal, and is an amalgam of earlier stylistic elements, including the angular miquelet-style cock and the internal components of the mature flintlock. On your example, the styling of the cock has taken a more Frenchified shape, moving away from the normal Hispanicized form.

Quite an interesting thing! Thank you for posting it.

Philip · 1st July 2019, 10:54 PM

Here is an example of a fecho de nó,, dating from the 19th cent., showing the features explained in my prior post. Many Portuguese style flintlock mechanisms (and complete guns using same) of different types were manufactured at Liège for export to the Portuguese colonies; trade to Africa lasted for much of the 19th cent. They are variously marked (or not at all), and were made in a wide range of build quality, from quite good as you seed here, to extremely crude.

Philip · 1st July 2019, 11:15 PM

I post this one only to note the decorative filework on the edge of the frizzen spring, in comparison to that on the pistol under consideration.

(The typology of this lock has no bearing on the essence of this thread as it is a different breed of cat, similar origin as the above, but a separate style called fecho de três parafusos in Portuguese. Again, a sort of hybrid, having the external form of an earlier type called fecho de molinhas with the innards of a French flintlock sans half cock detent on the tumbler.)

29th June 2019, 06:32 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Later Tourist Pistol Attached Images

1st July 2019, 09:57 PM	#2
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	more than meets the eye Mr Corrado, May I contribute a comment on the very first pistol, shown in several views, at the top of this thread -- I'm glad that you provided images of the lock because from this, I believe the gun to most likely be Indo-Portuguese, perhaps made by an artisan in Goa. Not only from the décor which has elements seen in furnishings and decorative arts from there, but more importantly, the construction of the lock itself. The flintlock has all the characteristics of a uniquely Portuguese style of flintlock called a fecho de nó ( "knot" lock, unfortunately I do not know the etymology of this rather unusual term -- Fernando, can you help me out?) Characteristics include an internal mainspring with a typical "French" flintlock tumbler and sear arrangement (with half-cock detent, not the external Portuguese "brake" or swiveling safety dog). The odd "humpback" single leaf frizzen spring is also typically and perhaps uniquely Portuguese. The fecho de nó originated in late 17th cent. Portugal, and is an amalgam of earlier stylistic elements, including the angular miquelet-style cock and the internal components of the mature flintlock. On your example, the styling of the cock has taken a more Frenchified shape, moving away from the normal Hispanicized form. Quite an interesting thing! Thank you for posting it.

1st July 2019, 10:54 PM	#3
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	fecho de nó Here is an example of a fecho de nó,, dating from the 19th cent., showing the features explained in my prior post. Many Portuguese style flintlock mechanisms (and complete guns using same) of different types were manufactured at Liège for export to the Portuguese colonies; trade to Africa lasted for much of the 19th cent. They are variously marked (or not at all), and were made in a wide range of build quality, from quite good as you seed here, to extremely crude. Attached Images

1st July 2019, 11:15 PM	#4
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	deco filework I post this one only to note the decorative filework on the edge of the frizzen spring, in comparison to that on the pistol under consideration. (The typology of this lock has no bearing on the essence of this thread as it is a different breed of cat, similar origin as the above, but a separate style called fecho de três parafusos in Portuguese. Again, a sort of hybrid, having the external form of an earlier type called fecho de molinhas with the innards of a French flintlock sans half cock detent on the tumbler.) Attached Images