A matchlock chronology, ca. 1520 to 1720

Matchlock · 7th December 2008, 05:05 PM

Extremely rare.

Michael

Pukka Bundook · 9th December 2008, 01:49 PM

Good morning, Michael.

A very nice lock and in just about 'as new' condition!
was it ever fitted to a gun?
The notch in the pan for the touch-hole looks very narrow, and made me wonder if it had ever been fitted or not.
It is a lock roughly similar to this, that I thought may have been originally fitted to the two harquebus' from the Tower.

Looking again at the dummy wheellock above in this thread, I must say an awful lot of work went into it. It is a very nice lock!
I see the pan withdraws when fired via a link inside.

All best wishes,

Richard.

I have just been looking at the dummy wheel-lock again.

Do I see stains inside the lock-plate where a longer spring was once fitted? also, I see a cut-out for the wheel.
I was just wondering, with the quality of work here, Do you think this was originally a true wheellock, and when it broke down, converted more cheaply to a matchlock?
An interesting lock!

R.

Matchlock · 13th December 2008, 03:19 PM

Good morning, Richard,

The blued matchlock mechanism in as new condition belongs to a gun which is not in my collection. I just took it off for the pictures. You will see the complete guns with this kind of lock later on.

The dummy wheel-lock in fact never had a wheel mounted, and there never was a U shaped mainspring. The pan is not cut out for a wheel and there are no other screw holes than those with the screws present.

It was built just to be a dummy. Nothing more to it.

Michael

Matchlock · 14th December 2008, 12:42 PM

Hi, Richard,

Here are digital pics a friend of mine took that show details of a ca. 1555 Styrian wall gun; some of the barrels of this group are dated 1554, 1556 and 1557 respectively.

I took the measuremts of one of those big pieces:
overall length 215 cm, cal. 24.8 mm smoothbore, weight 26.5 kg.

Some of the butt-stocks resemble that of my Straubing harquebus but there are other variations as well.

Michael

Matchlock · 14th December 2008, 12:57 PM

That's how these matchlock wall pieces are stored on their original shelves at Graz.

Michael

Pukka Bundook · 14th December 2008, 02:51 PM

Good morning, Michael.

Thank you for the reply.
I am surprised the dummy wheellock was made that way. I have never seen one before with such nice internals, inc. engraved spring!
It shows that at this time, the old matchlock was not looked down on, as something inferior.

Re. the Styrian wall guns, a few things surprise me;
The barrels look to be of high quality, Very well finished!.....something not always seen at this early date.
More surprising to me, is the use of a conventional trigger and guard!
(When we think that sear locks were being made for about 100 years after this time, and many snap locks were still using the button on the lock-plate, or an early unguarded trigger.)
It is interesting to see the trigger and guard off-set, so as to make the reach shorter on the heavy, thick stock.
Also. this is the first time I have seen this simple method of tightening the jaws of the cock on the tinder. .....Very simple! I would like to try making an arrangement like this!
Looking at these pictures, I started to itch to give these guns a 'drink' of oil!....they look a bit dry and thisty.

Graz looks like a place to not miss if I ever get to that part of the world!
I could be los in there for hours...days!

Thank you for posting these pictures!!

Richard.

Matchlock · 7th October 2009, 02:59 PM

A detached mechanism for an arquebus, retaining its long tiller trigger acting on the forward match serpentine while the rear snap tinder cock is released by a lateral push button.
Length of lock plate 21 cm.

On the fore end of the lock plate, right underneath the foot of the serpentine, a small Nuremberg city proof mark is struck - please see detail image.

Both the cock and dog (serpentine) retaining a piece of tinder and match cord respectively and of corse both served the same pan alternatively.

Sold October 5, 2009, Hermann Historica, Munich, at a hammer price of 1,500 euro.

Cf. similar combination locks in my collection posted in this thread.

Best,
Michael

Chris Evans · 8th October 2009, 03:33 AM

Hi Matchlock,

Thank you for yet one more extremely instructive and intersting post.

I am, as surely the other forumites are too, appreciative the not inconsiderable effort that you put into your contributions.

Keep up the good work,
Chris Evans

Matchlock · 8th October 2009, 09:53 AM

It always does me good to learn that there is someone out there apprectiating my efforts - thank you so much,Chris!

Best wishes,
Michael

Bolek · 12th March 2011, 07:03 AM

I want to thank you for a very good study topic. Here in Poland, your work is very important.
Thank you and best regards.

Bolek

9th December 2008, 01:49 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Good morning, Michael. A very nice lock and in just about 'as new' condition! was it ever fitted to a gun? The notch in the pan for the touch-hole looks very narrow, and made me wonder if it had ever been fitted or not. It is a lock roughly similar to this, that I thought may have been originally fitted to the two harquebus' from the Tower. Looking again at the dummy wheellock above in this thread, I must say an awful lot of work went into it. It is a very nice lock! I see the pan withdraws when fired via a link inside. All best wishes, Richard. I have just been looking at the dummy wheel-lock again. Do I see stains inside the lock-plate where a longer spring was once fitted? also, I see a cut-out for the wheel. I was just wondering, with the quality of work here, Do you think this was originally a true wheellock, and when it broke down, converted more cheaply to a matchlock? An interesting lock! R. Last edited by Pukka Bundook; 9th December 2008 at 02:10 PM.

14th December 2008, 12:42 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Snap matchlocks ca. 1555 in the Graz armory Hi, Richard, Here are digital pics a friend of mine took that show details of a ca. 1555 Styrian wall gun; some of the barrels of this group are dated 1554, 1556 and 1557 respectively. I took the measuremts of one of those big pieces: overall length 215 cm, cal. 24.8 mm smoothbore, weight 26.5 kg. Some of the butt-stocks resemble that of my Straubing harquebus but there are other variations as well. Michael Attached Images

14th December 2008, 12:57 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	That's how these matchlock wall pieces are stored on their original shelves at Graz. Michael Attached Images

7th October 2009, 02:59 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Very Rare ca. 1550 Nuremberg Combined Snap Tinder and Matchlock Mechanism A detached mechanism for an arquebus, retaining its long tiller trigger acting on the forward match serpentine while the rear snap tinder cock is released by a lateral push button. Length of lock plate 21 cm. On the fore end of the lock plate, right underneath the foot of the serpentine, a small Nuremberg city proof mark is struck - please see detail image. Both the cock and dog (serpentine) retaining a piece of tinder and match cord respectively and of corse both served the same pan alternatively. Sold October 5, 2009, Hermann Historica, Munich, at a hammer price of 1,500 euro. Cf. similar combination locks in my collection posted in this thread. Best, Michael Attached Images

13th December 2008, 03:19 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Good morning, Richard, The blued matchlock mechanism in as new condition belongs to a gun which is not in my collection. I just took it off for the pictures. You will see the complete guns with this kind of lock later on. The dummy wheel-lock in fact never had a wheel mounted, and there never was a U shaped mainspring. The pan is not cut out for a wheel and there are no other screw holes than those with the screws present. It was built just to be a dummy. Nothing more to it. Michael

14th December 2008, 02:51 PM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Good morning, Michael. Thank you for the reply. I am surprised the dummy wheellock was made that way. I have never seen one before with such nice internals, inc. engraved spring! It shows that at this time, the old matchlock was not looked down on, as something inferior. Re. the Styrian wall guns, a few things surprise me; The barrels look to be of high quality, Very well finished!.....something not always seen at this early date. More surprising to me, is the use of a conventional trigger and guard! (When we think that sear locks were being made for about 100 years after this time, and many snap locks were still using the button on the lock-plate, or an early unguarded trigger.) It is interesting to see the trigger and guard off-set, so as to make the reach shorter on the heavy, thick stock. Also. this is the first time I have seen this simple method of tightening the jaws of the cock on the tinder. .....Very simple! I would like to try making an arrangement like this! Looking at these pictures, I started to itch to give these guns a 'drink' of oil!....they look a bit dry and thisty. Graz looks like a place to not miss if I ever get to that part of the world! I could be los in there for hours...days! Thank you for posting these pictures!! Richard.

8th October 2009, 03:33 AM	#8
Chris Evans Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 675	Hi Matchlock, Thank you for yet one more extremely instructive and intersting post. I am, as surely the other forumites are too, appreciative the not inconsiderable effort that you put into your contributions. Keep up the good work, Chris Evans

8th October 2009, 09:53 AM	#9
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	It always does me good to learn that there is someone out there apprectiating my efforts - thank you so much,Chris! Best wishes, Michael

12th March 2011, 07:03 AM	#10
Bolek Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 15	I want to thank you for a very good study topic. Here in Poland, your work is very important. Thank you and best regards. Bolek