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Philip · 5th March 2022, 09:57 PM

Several posts previously I quoted author James Lavin on the use of the fiel which Espinar's 1644 treatise Arte de ballestería y montería
precisely describes this component as "similar to headless nails" and the screw which accepts them is "drilled through its very threads". The text clearly states the use of threaded screws which form the pivot points of both cock and frizzen. So we can argue whether or not the above-discussed crosspin holding a tenon in its mortis is a fiel according to this definition, it may be more significant to a mechanical engineer than to most arms collectors and historians.

Fernando has pointed out an example of an Ottoman lock in which the frizzen pivot is also unthreaded and locked in place by a crosspin.

This has inspired me to look through the miquelets in my collection to see how the frizzen pivots and the means of securing the pivot in place. It turns out that on all these (European, not Oriental manufacture) locks, the frizzen pivots on a screw. All of them employ threaded screws on which the frizzen rotates.
1. Very early patilla lock of somewhat primitive design, Brescia, first half 17th cent.: It has a long bridge-like bridle connecting pan and cock pivot (as on Ottoman/Balkan locks of later date), neither pivot screws are held by fieles.
2. Early Ripoll pistol ca. 1645, ex-Lavin, publ in his book, figs 115A and 117A, the frizzen screw is held by a fiel.
3. Patilla lock made by an Austrian or German smith (for a remounted war-trophy Ottoman damascus barrel, late 17th cent.) no fiel retaining either cock or frizzen screw.
4. Neapolitan lock by Scarpati of the Fab Reale di N, same remarks as 3
5. Shotgun by court gunsmith de Zegarra, 1770s, same remarks as 3
6. ditto, by Fernando Murúa of Eibar, ca 1790-1810, same remarks as 3
7. Eibar lock on pistol by José Aguirre, beginning 19th cent., same remarks as 3

What would be interesting if our friend Rick Russell (rickystl) would chime in with a comparable survey of this feature on the considerable numbers of Ottoman, Balkan, and North African locks in his collection. Also as an avid shooter of refurbished old guns of these cultures, he might also have remarks about the functional necessity of these retaining pins, if they appear in significant number on locks thought to post-date ca 1700, when Lavin states that their use pretty much ceased in Spain.

5th March 2022, 09:57 PM	#22
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Use of screws as frizzen pivots Several posts previously I quoted author James Lavin on the use of the fiel which Espinar's 1644 treatise Arte de ballestería y montería precisely describes this component as "similar to headless nails" and the screw which accepts them is "drilled through its very threads". The text clearly states the use of threaded screws which form the pivot points of both cock and frizzen. So we can argue whether or not the above-discussed crosspin holding a tenon in its mortis is a fiel according to this definition, it may be more significant to a mechanical engineer than to most arms collectors and historians. Fernando has pointed out an example of an Ottoman lock in which the frizzen pivot is also unthreaded and locked in place by a crosspin. This has inspired me to look through the miquelets in my collection to see how the frizzen pivots and the means of securing the pivot in place. It turns out that on all these (European, not Oriental manufacture) locks, the frizzen pivots on a screw. All of them employ threaded screws on which the frizzen rotates. 1. Very early patilla lock of somewhat primitive design, Brescia, first half 17th cent.: It has a long bridge-like bridle connecting pan and cock pivot (as on Ottoman/Balkan locks of later date), neither pivot screws are held by fieles. 2. Early Ripoll pistol ca. 1645, ex-Lavin, publ in his book, figs 115A and 117A, the frizzen screw is held by a fiel. 3. Patilla lock made by an Austrian or German smith (for a remounted war-trophy Ottoman damascus barrel, late 17th cent.) no fiel retaining either cock or frizzen screw. 4. Neapolitan lock by Scarpati of the Fab Reale di N, same remarks as 3 5. Shotgun by court gunsmith de Zegarra, 1770s, same remarks as 3 6. ditto, by Fernando Murúa of Eibar, ca 1790-1810, same remarks as 3 7. Eibar lock on pistol by José Aguirre, beginning 19th cent., same remarks as 3 What would be interesting if our friend Rick Russell (rickystl) would chime in with a comparable survey of this feature on the considerable numbers of Ottoman, Balkan, and North African locks in his collection. Also as an avid shooter of refurbished old guns of these cultures, he might also have remarks about the functional necessity of these retaining pins, if they appear in significant number on locks thought to post-date ca 1700, when Lavin states that their use pretty much ceased in Spain.