Dutch target arquebuse dated 1630

[Marcus den toom]

Originally Posted by Raf

Might the area inside the line on this detail be a later patch ? This might indicate the approximate shape of the original lock which would justify the matchlock re conversion.

Very astute observation and thank you for pitching in. Indeed this piece of wood has been added later into what appears to be a rectangular shape. Attached two pictures from the inside were the same line can be seen. The only odd thing is that the cut seems to go up all the way towards the tang of the barrel. This piece is now obscured by a thin sheet of brass.
As to the age of the stock it is good to keep all options open. The shape of the stock does correspond with the few examples i know of from other Dutch target guns from the early to mid 17th century. It is quite an odd ball for any other later musket.

The other gun i posted does have a metal bar at the butstock, for whatever reason (see picture). Why these stocks are made in two parts eludes me as well sofar

Luckily the worm damage has only affected a small portion of the butstock and the resting slate of wood on the "foot" of the stock. Other than that the wood is structurally sound. There is one crack at the counter lock plate were there is evidence of older holes for lock fastening bolts as well as the new holes for the percussion lock. For safety reasons i have treated those parts with profesional wood worm killer (used for antique wood).

[Raf]

Thats all good news. Out of curiosity what is the drilling in the barrel to the right of the percussion bolster? I was wondering if the detachable stock extension had something to do with accommodating different styles of shooting. Either with the extension resting on the shoulder like a tiller or without the extension shooting from the bench rest.

[Raf]

An obvious parallel is the Dutch bench rest target crossbow. Note the set triggers and maybe an idea for the form of the trigger guard.

[Marcus den toom]

Originally Posted by Raf

Thats all good news. Out of curiosity what is the drilling in the barrel to the right of the percussion bolster? I was wondering if the detachable stock extension had something to do with accommodating different styles of shooting. Either with the extension resting on the shoulder like a tiller or without the extension shooting from the bench rest.

Attached a picture of this hole. It is hard to see but i think there is a screw thread inside. It is not punctured all the way trough the bore either. I think it might have been a fastening point for the original lock.

You make a good point about the stock. I own a air rifle which can be modded to all sorts of uses. The barrel and action are all one piece but the rest can be altered. The same could be true for this target gun. Rather ingenious, thank you for that

Exactly, do you know if that style with a bench rwst was also employed in other countries? Trigger guard is a nice starting point too

[Marcus den toom]

Long barrel of square section ornamented with ribs and flutes towards the breech then round with widely spaced flutes the flared muzzle being octagonal. Wide Vee backsight. A nearly obliterated mark possibly that of Antwerp is stamped near the breech. Lock of similar type to that of No.XII.18 but with brass lockplate and match-holder. Pan-cover and scear missing.

Stock with butt of 'bellied' form; the projecting grip for the left hand is carved with an eight petalled flower. No ramrod is fitted, a false rod being simulated on the fore-end by carving. Indented steel trigger-guard. Double-lever hair-trigger

Dimensions:
Barre lLength 1283 mm
Calibre .60 in
Place: Flanders, Antwerp
Date: about 1680
Location: Study Collection
Object number:XII.20
Provenance: Old Tower Collection
https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-218

[Marcus den toom]

Of similar type to No. XII.18 and 20 but differing in detail and of later date. Barrel of square section at the breech altering to octagonal. Wide, flat backsight pierced with a large aperture and originally fitted with a pivoted plate drilled with a smaller aperture for optional use. The pan retains it's pivoted cover.

Lock with mechanism similar to that fitted to No. XII.16, the lock-plate however being of flintlock shape. It is engraved with the name of the maker E.G. Siaens.

Stock, the butt with cheekpiece on both sides, the large hand-grip carved with rococo scrollwork and foliage in high relief. Brass mounts, the trigger-guard indented for the fingers. Double-lever hair-trigger. Ramrod missing.

Dimensions:
Barrel Length 1067 mm
Overall Length 1502 mm
Calibre: .56 in (26 bore)
https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-219

[Marcus den toom]

Slender octagonal barrel flaring at the muzzle where it is ornamented with flutes. Brass bead foresight and tall V backsight. The Antwerp control mark (a raised left hand, the palm towards the viewer) is stamped on the left at the breech and a barrel forger's mark on the underside. Lock with S shaped match-holder mounted at the rear of the lock plate and working with a forward motion. The mechanism incorporates a mainspring and tumbler of flintlock type the later with a single cocking notch, The pan is mounted on the lockplate and has possessed a pivoted cover now missing. The lockplate is engraved with the name of the maker JACOBUS VAN OPPY ANVERS. There is a projecting grip for the left hand in front of the trigger guard the end of which is missing. The base of the fore-end is carved with a simple design of scrolling foliage. Brass mounts the triggerguard indented for the fingers. Double lever hair-trigger, steel ramrod possibly original.

Dimensions
Overall Height 8 in
Overall Height 210 mm
Overall Length 60 in
Overall Length 1524 mm
Overall Weight 5 kg
Overall Weight 11 lbs
Overall Width 2 in
Overall Width 62 mm
Barrel Length 45 in
Barrel Length 1149 mm
https://royalarmouries.org/collectio...t/object-30707

[Marcus den toom]

The lock plate has ends in the shape of three leaves. The barrel is of the so-called halber Kistenlauf type, with a breech of square cross-section; the tubular iron rear sight is decorated as a spiral; the sight grain is made of copper; the barrel is partly chiseled with panels, lines, letters and numbers and shows remains of inlaid copper wire, including a diamond with an O and the letters la[..]we[..] flanked by copper incrustation in a zigzag pattern, and the year 1618 flanked by notches. The walnut stock is simply carved and ends at the bottom in a support bobbin with a flower on the sides and at the bottom the remains of an old paper sticker written in ink: This s[?] is fromt a[..] / [.. ]sie; the stock has two cavities on top, one for the shooter's thumb, the other for his hand. The iron fittings consist of a trigger guard that extends into the support spool at the front and has three projections for the fingers, the rear of which is in an S-shape, and of a butt cap with an iron eye soldered to it for hanging the weapon; no provision for a ramrod. The rifle is rusted and dented.

length 191 cm
length barrel 117.3 cm
diameter 14.5 cm
weight 8.6 kg
Purchased from the H.L. Visser Collection, with the support of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the Ministerie van OCenW, the Ministerie van Defensie, the VSBfonds, the BankGiro Lottery and the Rijksmuseum Fonds


https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search...G-2002-23-10,1