A blunderbuss with an early lock

fernando · 10th April 2016, 08:00 PM

Tamam, Iskender

.

fernando · 22nd July 2019, 12:21 PM

So, i was crossing some information towards checking a (possibly) faded mark on my bronze barreled blunderbuss, and what do i find ? Confirmation that guns with a dog lock system were indeed (also) made in Portugal. The place is Barcarena, where Royal smithy facilities were first implemented in 1487 for the purpose of arms making, having circa 1618-1619 taken place the first factory of black gun powder.
We can see in THIS CATALOGUE, besides other illustrations, that of a naval bronze barreled blunderbuss from the middle of the XVII century, "which could shoot nine bullets connected by a chain, with purpose to tear the rig of enemy ships".

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M ELEY · 22nd July 2019, 04:30 PM

Now, that's what I'm talking about!! Sorry, couldn't resist-

As I mentioned, brass and bronze blunderbuss, particularly those on a swivel (rail gun) very popular with the naval men. Quite surprised to see one loaded with anti-rigging chain-shot!

fernando · 22nd July 2019, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Now, that's what I'm talking about!! Sorry, couldn't resist-

As I mentioned, brass and bronze blunderbuss, particularly those on a swivel (rail gun) very popular with the naval men. Quite surprised to see one loaded with anti-rigging chain-shot!

Still you haven't seen it all, Captain

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Fernando K · 22nd July 2019, 10:22 PM

Hello

In what I understand, the trabucos uploaded by fernando (post # 1 and # 43,) the safety hook (dog.lock) hooked in half mounts to the foot of cat (cock, hammer) is automatically unhooked when placing the foot of cat in full-cock, the two flat surfaces run one another, moving the end of the safety hook away from the notch in the foot of the cat, that is, the movement of the cat foot backwards (full-cock) to disengage the security mechanism.

Affectionately

fernando · 23rd July 2019, 11:34 AM

Eso es, caro K

rickystl · 24th July 2019, 03:36 PM

Hi Fernando

I don't know how I missed this Thread some three years ago ? Glad you resurrected it with an update so I could read from the beginning.

That is a wonderful, early dog lock blunderbuss. Overall, the gun looks like it was assembled from various new/surplus parts for personal protection. To me, all the features of this gun point to pre-1700. Of course, the single sling swivel could have been added later during the period for belt or baldric type carry.
The lock, with the exception of the top screw, looks very much like the English doglocks from about the 3rd Quarter of the 17th Century. The long lock plate and frizzen spring with the pointed tail on the lock plate rear. The hammer and dog safety catch also are very English looking in style. So it appears that the Spanish/Portuguese made lock attempted to copy the popular English features at the time.
The butt stock looks more of a Spanish/Portuguese variant. Not at all English. The iron hardware, especially the butt plate and trigger guard, also look very much pre-1700 with it's plain hammer forged style.
The barrel looks similar to other large bore muskets from the period.
While the iron ramrod and barrel bands could be a bit later addition, I still believe this gun falls into the say, 1660-1675 Period. Just my speculation.

It's certainly great addition to a collection. Guns from the Third Quarter of the 17th Century and earlier are generally difficult to come by, especially in one piece. LOL Congratulations.

Rick

By the way, the doglock, with it's banana shaped lock plate on the navel swivel gun on Post #43 is similar to the English doglocks from the 4th Quarter of the 1600's to about 1720.

22nd July 2019, 12:21 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So, i was crossing some information towards checking a (possibly) faded mark on my bronze barreled blunderbuss, and what do i find ? Confirmation that guns with a dog lock system were indeed (also) made in Portugal. The place is Barcarena, where Royal smithy facilities were first implemented in 1487 for the purpose of arms making, having circa 1618-1619 taken place the first factory of black gun powder. We can see in THIS CATALOGUE, besides other illustrations, that of a naval bronze barreled blunderbuss from the middle of the XVII century, "which could shoot nine bullets connected by a chain, with purpose to tear the rig of enemy ships". . Attached Images

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10th April 2016, 08:00 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Tamam, Iskender .

22nd July 2019, 04:30 PM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	Now, that's what I'm talking about!! Sorry, couldn't resist- As I mentioned, brass and bronze blunderbuss, particularly those on a swivel (rail gun) very popular with the naval men. Quite surprised to see one loaded with anti-rigging chain-shot!

22nd July 2019, 10:22 PM	#5
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello In what I understand, the trabucos uploaded by fernando (post # 1 and # 43,) the safety hook (dog.lock) hooked in half mounts to the foot of cat (cock, hammer) is automatically unhooked when placing the foot of cat in full-cock, the two flat surfaces run one another, moving the end of the safety hook away from the notch in the foot of the cat, that is, the movement of the cat foot backwards (full-cock) to disengage the security mechanism. Affectionately

23rd July 2019, 11:34 AM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Eso es, caro K

24th July 2019, 03:36 PM	#7
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Fernando I don't know how I missed this Thread some three years ago ? Glad you resurrected it with an update so I could read from the beginning. That is a wonderful, early dog lock blunderbuss. Overall, the gun looks like it was assembled from various new/surplus parts for personal protection. To me, all the features of this gun point to pre-1700. Of course, the single sling swivel could have been added later during the period for belt or baldric type carry. The lock, with the exception of the top screw, looks very much like the English doglocks from about the 3rd Quarter of the 17th Century. The long lock plate and frizzen spring with the pointed tail on the lock plate rear. The hammer and dog safety catch also are very English looking in style. So it appears that the Spanish/Portuguese made lock attempted to copy the popular English features at the time. The butt stock looks more of a Spanish/Portuguese variant. Not at all English. The iron hardware, especially the butt plate and trigger guard, also look very much pre-1700 with it's plain hammer forged style. The barrel looks similar to other large bore muskets from the period. While the iron ramrod and barrel bands could be a bit later addition, I still believe this gun falls into the say, 1660-1675 Period. Just my speculation. It's certainly great addition to a collection. Guns from the Third Quarter of the 17th Century and earlier are generally difficult to come by, especially in one piece. LOL Congratulations. Rick By the way, the doglock, with it's banana shaped lock plate on the navel swivel gun on Post #43 is similar to the English doglocks from the 4th Quarter of the 1600's to about 1720.