A Nice Pair of 'Military' Wheellock Saddle Pistols, of Suhl Type, ca. 1635-40

[Matchlock]

From the heyday of the Thirty Years War, retaining their original iron-capped ramrods; sold at Probus, Stockholm.
As there are minor differences, e.g. on the wheel brackets, they do not form a genuine pair but should be called 'two of some similar though different series'.

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[Matchlock]

And here is what a characteristic Thirty Years War period saddle holster looked like, this fine sample preserved in virtually 'untouched' condition and retaining both its top cover lid and side bag, a wooden container (damaged) inserted, drilled for four paper cartridges.
On the bottom of that cartridge container a piece of paper was found printed with the date 1621, still containing some black powder.

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[Matchlock]

One last close-up.

[Matchlock]

A similar Suhl marked pistol of West German type, 1640's, the ramrod tip incorrectly replaced by what seems to be bone, instead of the correct iron finial (Setzerkopf); sold Christie's.

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[Matchlock]

And, for stylistic comparison, a Dutch holster pistol of the 1670's:
the plain iron butt band that was characteristic of the 1620's-40's now developed to form a complete cap with long spur reaching towards the rear end of the lock, the forestock characteristically carved, the ramrod of typical late-17th c. bulbous shape, an original iron reiforcing ring, analogous to that on the fore end of the stock, possibly missing from its tip; the trigger probably a replacement.

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[Matchlock]

For more on Thirty Years War period wheellock holster pistols, icluding a perfect firing copy built by a friend of mine, see

http://www.engerisser.de/Bewaffnung/weapons/Wheellockpistol.html

http://www.engerisser.de/Bewaffnung/weapons/Wheellock.html

http://www.engerisser.de/Bewaffnung/Radschlosspistole2.html

The latter link, on a ca. 1640 pistol, will not open in English I am afraid.


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