A matchlock chronology, ca. 1520 to 1720

Pukka Bundook · 17th November 2008, 01:28 PM

Michael,

Please keep sending us photos of these fascinating arms! I know it is an awful lot of work, taking the pictures, selecting the appropriate ones, etc, and all I can offer in exchange is thanks!
If I were in a position to own an original, I think I would spend many hours sitting holding it, contemplating the first owner, and the so-different world he belonged to!
Such arms are a window to this other age....and maybe even a door, if one were to take a similar arm into the woods and fields and become thoroughly conversant with the every-day workings and peculiarities of such an arm....In other words, we could "remember" things long lost simply by 'doing', and live to some degree, a lifetime beyond our own.

Though bending the forum rules a bit, this is my only matchlock.

Thank you again, Michael.

Richard.

Matchlock · 17th November 2008, 06:10 PM

Thank you so much, Fernando, for that hearty willkommen!
It makes me feeling at home with you guys.

Michael

Matchlock · 17th November 2008, 06:28 PM

Richard,

I fully agree with what you said about old weapons being our window, and even door, to periods and people long forgotten.

Sometimes I feel just the same, especially when handling such highly important historical pieces like my 1481 Munich haquebut barrel. This piece comes from the collection of the Veste (castle) Oberhaus in Passau/Eastern Bavaria, bordering on Austria, where rivaling parties fired at each other at a short fight before the election of new archbishop in 1482. Just imagine my barrel being fired from the high castle down at the citizens! And, as is the case with my fine haquebut/wall gun from the Kronburg: I am only the second or third owner of these two pieces in their 500 years of history!

It's a very special way of being simultaneously happy, humble and grateful, just sort of bowing down before the people that made and handled these pieces. Nothing is left of their bones but we can admire their weapons still ...

Michael

Matchlock · 17th November 2008, 08:10 PM

Though bending the forum rules a bit, this is my only matchlock.

Thank you again, Michael.

Richard.[/QUOTE]

Richard,

I posted a comment on your fine matchlock musket but by mistake inserted it in the wrong thread - sorry.

You will be happy going to:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7542

Michael

Pukka Bundook · 19th November 2008, 02:21 AM

Michael,

I read and responded to your post re. my matchlock over on the other thread,
I am pleased you like it!

Best wishes,

Richard.

Matchlock · 19th November 2008, 06:21 PM

Thanks, Richard,

I found it and liked it a lot!

Best wishes,
Michael

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

17th November 2008, 01:28 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Michael, Please keep sending us photos of these fascinating arms! I know it is an awful lot of work, taking the pictures, selecting the appropriate ones, etc, and all I can offer in exchange is thanks! If I were in a position to own an original, I think I would spend many hours sitting holding it, contemplating the first owner, and the so-different world he belonged to! Such arms are a window to this other age....and maybe even a door, if one were to take a similar arm into the woods and fields and become thoroughly conversant with the every-day workings and peculiarities of such an arm....In other words, we could "remember" things long lost simply by 'doing', and live to some degree, a lifetime beyond our own. Though bending the forum rules a bit, this is my only matchlock. Thank you again, Michael. Richard. Attached Images

9th December 2008, 01:49 PM	#8
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.

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17th November 2008, 06:10 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thank you so much, Fernando, for that hearty willkommen! It makes me feeling at home with you guys. Michael

17th November 2008, 06:28 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Richard, I fully agree with what you said about old weapons being our window, and even door, to periods and people long forgotten. Sometimes I feel just the same, especially when handling such highly important historical pieces like my 1481 Munich haquebut barrel. This piece comes from the collection of the Veste (castle) Oberhaus in Passau/Eastern Bavaria, bordering on Austria, where rivaling parties fired at each other at a short fight before the election of new archbishop in 1482. Just imagine my barrel being fired from the high castle down at the citizens! And, as is the case with my fine haquebut/wall gun from the Kronburg: I am only the second or third owner of these two pieces in their 500 years of history! It's a very special way of being simultaneously happy, humble and grateful, just sort of bowing down before the people that made and handled these pieces. Nothing is left of their bones but we can admire their weapons still ... Michael

17th November 2008, 08:10 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Though bending the forum rules a bit, this is my only matchlock. Thank you again, Michael. Richard.[/QUOTE] Richard, I posted a comment on your fine matchlock musket but by mistake inserted it in the wrong thread - sorry. You will be happy going to: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7542 Michael

19th November 2008, 02:21 AM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Michael, I read and responded to your post re. my matchlock over on the other thread, I am pleased you like it! Best wishes, Richard.

19th November 2008, 06:21 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thanks, Richard, I found it and liked it a lot! Best wishes, Michael

13th December 2008, 03:19 PM	#9
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