Small wheel lock pistol

fernando · 4th April 2018, 04:57 PM

Very nice little thing, James.
Do i discern "By Appointment" in the upper lettering ?
Could it be that the label inside the lid refers to some company that intended to offer this miniature/s to their clients, and not one referring to the maker, as if that of a gun retailer ?
Could INGTON & Co. be BURLINGTON & Co. ?

JamesKelly · 4th April 2018, 09:22 PM

Might say ". . . APPOINTMENT" in top lettering. I need to dig out my binocular microscope to examine it better

"Modern" for the case is, I believe 19th rather than 20th century. It just does not look like 20th century work.

Original 1530 - 1630 miniature wheellock pistols not uncommonly had a brass frame with iron/steel lock & barrel. Some by Michael Mann had the brass gilded, and were engraved all over. This is my internet learning.

I'm no expert in wheellock miniatures. The only one I ever personally saw was made by the late Herschal Kopp, Maryland about 1963 or '64. His son was in dentistry, investment cast the frame in gold for him.

Really the barrel of this one troubles me most. The round half appears to have been lathe turned. Half a lifetime ago I made a 1/3 scale matchlock musket & full size flint pistol with half-octagon barrels. I accomplished this with a file, works fine but the finish differs from machine work. Also the ferrous metal in this wheellock shows no slag lines at all, such as might be expected in old wrought iron. I am an antique gun collector, and a metallugist with interest in historical metallurgy. Kinda like seeing the evidence of mediocre wrought iron in my 1812 Harpers Ferry musket.

I was hoping the label might bring something to mind. Will try looking under "Burlington"

thinreadline · 18th April 2018, 08:14 AM

Without having the item in my hand, I am loath to pass judgement ,however in the 1970 / 80s an English friend of mine ( a very skilled precision engineer ) used to make miniature wheellocks such as yours as well as miniature flintlocks and percussion revolvers . All were in cases and generally he used old cases of a suitable size which he refitted to take the item and accessories . You have an old box certainly but it may not have originally contained this pistol.

fernando · 18th April 2018, 07:10 PM

A plausible approach !

wheellock95 · 27th April 2020, 06:30 PM

I think most period miniature wheellocks had triggers that extended through the trigger guard as they were meant to be shot

corrado26 · 28th April 2020, 09:02 AM

Here are fotos of two Michael Mann-wheellock miniature pistols which I once had in my collection.

28th April 2020, 09:02 AM	#6
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,226	Here are fotos of two Michael Mann-wheellock miniature pistols which I once had in my collection. Attached Images

4th April 2018, 04:57 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Very nice little thing, James. Do i discern "By Appointment" in the upper lettering ? Could it be that the label inside the lid refers to some company that intended to offer this miniature/s to their clients, and not one referring to the maker, as if that of a gun retailer ? Could INGTON & Co. be BURLINGTON & Co. ?

4th April 2018, 09:22 PM	#2
JamesKelly Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Michigan, U.S.A. Posts: 108	Might say ". . . APPOINTMENT" in top lettering. I need to dig out my binocular microscope to examine it better "Modern" for the case is, I believe 19th rather than 20th century. It just does not look like 20th century work. Original 1530 - 1630 miniature wheellock pistols not uncommonly had a brass frame with iron/steel lock & barrel. Some by Michael Mann had the brass gilded, and were engraved all over. This is my internet learning. I'm no expert in wheellock miniatures. The only one I ever personally saw was made by the late Herschal Kopp, Maryland about 1963 or '64. His son was in dentistry, investment cast the frame in gold for him. Really the barrel of this one troubles me most. The round half appears to have been lathe turned. Half a lifetime ago I made a 1/3 scale matchlock musket & full size flint pistol with half-octagon barrels. I accomplished this with a file, works fine but the finish differs from machine work. Also the ferrous metal in this wheellock shows no slag lines at all, such as might be expected in old wrought iron. I am an antique gun collector, and a metallugist with interest in historical metallurgy. Kinda like seeing the evidence of mediocre wrought iron in my 1812 Harpers Ferry musket. I was hoping the label might bring something to mind. Will try looking under "Burlington"

18th April 2018, 08:14 AM	#3
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Without having the item in my hand, I am loath to pass judgement ,however in the 1970 / 80s an English friend of mine ( a very skilled precision engineer ) used to make miniature wheellocks such as yours as well as miniature flintlocks and percussion revolvers . All were in cases and generally he used old cases of a suitable size which he refitted to take the item and accessories . You have an old box certainly but it may not have originally contained this pistol.

18th April 2018, 07:10 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A plausible approach !

27th April 2020, 06:30 PM	#5
wheellock95 Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 46	I think most period miniature wheellocks had triggers that extended through the trigger guard as they were meant to be shot