Sardinian Miquelet for comment and information

[Philip]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Philip,
I am interested in your comment that Quote: "we see (these guns) all the time on the market".
Any reference from "modern times" I have seen, including from reputable dealers describes these as "rare".
Stu

I follow auctions in the States, the EU, and the UK via their online catalogs and through bidder alert services and these guns do pop up with some regularity. Examples of exceptional quality and condition don’t show up often but I don’t regard the genre as being rare within the universe of antique and collectible firearms.

[corrado26]

There must have been produced quite a lot of these guns, because after the establishment of the "Regno" in 1720 under Vittorio Amadeo II. of Savoia. The Sardenian militia troops have been armed with such guns. These militia troops then became the base for a Sardinian regiment, that has been fighting against the French in 1745 to 1747 and in 1792-1793.
corrado26

[Ian]

I'm definitely not an antique gun guy but this gun interests me, particularly the small tube on the top of the stock.

The gun has a long barrel and is of relatively small bore, suggesting it would be reasonably accurate at some distance. However, there is no obvious aiming device to facilitate accuracy at any distance. The tube on the stock obviously held something, and I'm going to suggest that it held an aiming device (a sight) that could be adjusted up and down for aiming at various distances. The tube lines up with the center of the barrel, which would support my theory. However, there is no foresight and I'm not sure how the gun was aimed without one.

Ian.

[rickystl]

Hi Stu.

Congratulations. Nice find. As mentioned, this one seems to have been made in a more "utilitarian" manner. Simply meaning less decoration than usually seen like the ones posted by Corrado. And as Philip mentioned, it has a typical patilla style miquelet lock. Perhaps the owner of this piece already had access to the lock and was also on a more restricted budget (?) Just speculating.
But the profile, decoration, trigger guard, etc. are all similar to others. It's hard to believe that this very paticular style of gun came from one little island. And as Philip mentions, a real mix of styles and cultures.

Philip and Corrado: Thanks very much for the explainations. I really was not that familiar with the guns history.

Stu: That missing brass piece on the right side of the stock should be easy to replace since you have an identical piece on the left side. Especially if you know an engraver in your area. It's so much easier to duplicate when you have an original physical piece to work from. Strange that it is missing with all those tiny brass nails that were holding it in place. Does not look like it was broke off. Just removed for some reason. Curious.

Anyway, it's a great looking piece and appears in good condition. And an interesting variation of what you normally encounter. I like it.

Rick

[kahnjar1]

Well I forgot to post a pic of the replacement piece made by an engraver friend of mine. Better late than never I guess. A very close match and once the brass oxidizes it will fit with the original bits.
Stu

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Stu.

Congratulations. Nice find. As mentioned, this one seems to have been made in a more "utilitarian" manner. Simply meaning less decoration than usually seen like the ones posted by Corrado. And as Philip mentioned, it has a typical patilla style miquelet lock. Perhaps the owner of this piece already had access to the lock and was also on a more restricted budget (?) Just speculating.
But the profile, decoration, trigger guard, etc. are all similar to others. It's hard to believe that this very paticular style of gun came from one little island. And as Philip mentions, a real mix of styles and cultures.

Philip and Corrado: Thanks very much for the explainations. I really was not that familiar with the guns history.

Stu: That missing brass piece on the right side of the stock should be easy to replace since you have an identical piece on the left side. Especially if you know an engraver in your area. It's so much easier to duplicate when you have an original physical piece to work from. Strange that it is missing with all those tiny brass nails that were holding it in place. Does not look like it was broke off. Just removed for some reason. Curious.

Anyway, it's a great looking piece and appears in good condition. And an interesting variation of what you normally encounter. I like it.

Rick

[rickystl]

Hi Stu

That turned out very well. Very close indeed. And well worth the restoration.
Congratulations.

Rick

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Ian

I'm definitely not an antique gun guy but this gun interests me, particularly the small tube on the top of the stock.

The gun has a long barrel and is of relatively small bore, suggesting it would be reasonably accurate at some distance. However, there is no obvious aiming device to facilitate accuracy at any distance. The tube on the stock obviously held something, and I'm going to suggest that it held an aiming device (a sight) that could be adjusted up and down for aiming at various distances. The tube lines up with the center of the barrel, which would support my theory. However, there is no foresight and I'm not sure how the gun was aimed without one.

Ian.

Hi Ian.

Well, that may be the best guess yet. When you first mentioned this it made me think of the Japanese matchlocks that used seperate rear sight pieces (depending on anticipated range) that were removable.
So maybe this tube held different rear sight pieces used for the same purpose (?) Hmmmm. But they all seem to have this same tube. A really curios feature with these guns.

Rick

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Ian

I'm definitely not an antique gun guy but this gun interests me, particularly the small tube on the top of the stock.

The gun has a long barrel and is of relatively small bore, suggesting it would be reasonably accurate at some distance. However, there is no obvious aiming device to facilitate accuracy at any distance. The tube on the stock obviously held something, and I'm going to suggest that it held an aiming device (a sight) that could be adjusted up and down for aiming at various distances. The tube lines up with the center of the barrel, which would support my theory. However, there is no foresight and I'm not sure how the gun was aimed without one.

Ian.

Hi Ian,
There acutally IS a brass foresight but it is fairly small and appears somewhat worn down.
Stu

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Ian

However, there is no obvious aiming device to facilitate accuracy at any distance. The tube on the stock obviously held something, and I'm going to suggest that it held an aiming device (a sight) that could be adjusted up and down for aiming at various distances. The tube lines up with the center of the barrel, which would support my theory. However, there is no foresight and I'm not sure how the gun was aimed without one.
Ian.

Hi guys,

I believe too that Ian is right.
I don't know the topography of this island.
Is it possible to have an aiming device to shot from above, from a cliff for example?
Mainly for hunting purpose... Then this thing will make sense...

Kubur

[Fernando K]

Hello

The lock is not of Italian production, but it is a lock of miquelete, imported, or at least, produced having like model the classic lock of miquelete, produced in Catalonia. Its characteristic, in addition, the frizzen spring, which is curved instead of being folded, the end of the plate and the characteristic shape of the hammer, in the form of a

affectionately. Fernando K

[Fernando K]

........................C......................... ................

[Philip]

Just discovered this illustration in Alarico Gattia's Fucili e Pistole (Milan, Rizzoli Editore, 1968, p 40. Three versions of the lock commonly known to collectors as "miquelet" are shown. On the left is the traditional Spanish version in pretty much its pristine 17th cent. stylistic format, which was widely copied in Italy (primarily the southern half, but made for export in Brescia as well. Major points for comparison, germane to this thread, are the wasp-waisted lock plate, mainspring leaves of markedly unequal length, the reversed frizzen-spring largely concealed behind the priming-pan shield, and the obtuse angle of the cock jaws to the columnar stem.

On the far right is the typical Sardegnan version of the above -- mechanically identical but stylistically distinct in terms of the four design elements identified above.

In the center is the central Italian version of the miquelet, very popular in the regions around Rome and Naples, commonly known as the Roman lock (acciarino alla romana). The most notable points of departure from both of the above is that the mainspring exerts force in the opposite direction (downward, and on the toe rather than the heel of the foot of the cock), and a sear system (the levers and springs that link the action of the trigger to the release of the cock during firing) that is markedly different, being derived from that of the typical wheellock.