A Portuguese blunderbuss

[fernando]

Thank you for input Norman,
I think that is more than proven that, the blunderbuss bell mouth purpose was for spreading the shot, is pure fantasy. A more realistic evidence was the facilitating of the load; We may also consider that its appearance would intimidate the guys in front of it ... be them bandits or a mutiny crew.
But these untruths belong in history with the same firmness as real facts.
This reminds me i have the same conviction about the so called sword breaker (rompe puntas) in some (many) cup hilted swords. I just can't buy the idea that you could manage to catch the adversary's sword tip with such reduced cavity and, even more implausible, bend it enough to break it .

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[Fernando K]

Hola Fernando:

Gracias por tu aclaración, y por las imágenes. Lo que no me queda claro es el gancho de seguridad: si era movido manualmente, cuando el pié de gato esta en posición de armado (full-cock) el gancho podía moverse e interferir en su caída.

Afectuosamente. Fernando K

Hi Fernando:

Thanks for your clarification, and images. What is not clear to me is the safety hook: if it was moved manually, when the cat's foot is in cocked position (full-cock) could move the hook and interfere in its fall.

Affectionately. Fernando

[broadaxe]

This is most interesting. I like blunderbusses as a rule, and lacking information regarding Portuguese arms. I can see the connection here of the well-decorated barrel, to Indonesian Lantakas.
The lock isn't exactly a miquelete, is it?

[M ELEY]

Beautiful gun, Fernando! Where do you manage to find all of your amazing pieces?! I really must follow you around some day!

In regards to the spreading of shot with flared muzzles, I agree; perhaps many believed it distributed shot broadly, but it is the length of barrel and the "looseness" of the shot that actually creates the shot-gun effect.

I also question the rompe puntas on cup-hilts as far as supposed function. I guess I could imagine that perhaps an extremely skilled duelist might temporarily snatch the point of his opponent's blade enough to deflect it momentarily?Just enough to set him "off-balance" before a killing thrust? Likewise, if it was such an important component of this type sword, why did the ones made in New Spain lack this detail?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Beautiful gun, Fernando! Where do you manage to find all of your amazing pieces?! I really must follow you around some day! ...

Thank you Mark,
Amazingly the finest (and more expensive) pieces that i manage to gather, do happen to come across, not needing to go look for them; for my disgrace, they look for me .

Originally Posted by M ELEY

... I also question the rompe puntas on cup-hilts as far as supposed function. I guess I could imagine that perhaps an extremely skilled duelist might temporarily snatch the point of his opponent's blade enough to deflect it momentarily?Just enough to set him "off-balance" before a killing thrust? ...

Well said; maybe only an extemely skilled duelist could catch his opponent's blade tip, but (most of) these cup hilted swords were used by simple men and in combat, where they handled them in a practical (brutal) way, without resource to any intrincate moves ... i would say

[fernando]

Originally Posted by broadaxe

This is most interesting. I like blunderbusses as a rule, and lacking information regarding Portuguese arms. I can see the connection here of the well-decorated barrel, to Indonesian Lantakas.
The lock isn't exactly a miquelete, is it?

The miquelete lock is completely another thing. The basic difference is that its main spring is in the outside of the plate. This had the advantage of not having to deeply carve the stock wood, hence not diminishing its strenght. For the same reason such main spring could be sturdier/stronger, something we can observe in most examples.
The action mechanism was also very particular, with its hammer foot operating both half and full cock by means of internal sears passing through the plate, suspending the hammer foot. As this hammer foot had its features similiar to a human sideburn, this lock was named (apart from later miquelete) "patilla" (patilha in portuguese).


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[Fernando K]

Hola Fernando:

Muy clara tu explicación. Te pregunto que diferencia hay entre el "fecho de molinhas" y el "fecho de anselmo"

Afectuosamente. Fernando K

Hi Fernando:

Very clear your explanation. I wonder what is the difference between "Molinhas" lock and "Anselmo" lock
Affectionately. Fernando K

[fernando]

To put very simple:

In the Anselmo lock the main spring is in the exterior and operates in the front foot of the hammer. In the Molinhas (little springs=resortes) lock, the main spring is inside and is activated by some horizontal sears (molinhas).

... I hope you understand, Fernando and all; i am no expert


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[broadaxe]

Understood, thanks

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

... Lo que no me queda claro es el gancho de seguridad: si era movido manualmente, cuando el pié de gato esta en posición de armado (full-cock) el gancho podía moverse e interferir en su caída.

What is not clear to me is the safety hook (pawl): if it was moved manually, when the cat's foot is in full cocked position, the pawl could move in and interfere in its fall. ...

The pawl (gancho) is not dinamic (has no spring=muele); it stays where you leave it.
There is a small protuberance (saliencia) in the hammer (pie de gato) round foot . When you pull it up to full cock, this will push back the pawl (gancho), so that it won't be on the way when the hammer comes down.

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