Miquelet Lock Pistol end 17th c

[fernando]

Fernando K has a lot of knowledge of these things ... and a sharp eye .

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by fernando

Fernando K has a lot of knowledge of these things ... and a sharp eye .

Much agreed !!

Rick

[AHorsa]

Hey there,

indeed it is just two screws. I was wondering for what that third "rivet" is for. Thanks for the clrification that it was part of the belt hook!

Cheerio
Andreas

[AHorsa]

Hi All

I meanwhile found the time to replace one of the two missing rod-holder. I used an iron tube, put it in a stand driller and forged it with a file. What is still missing now is the second (and I worry much more complicate to produce) rod holder as well as one of the screws from the lock plate.

I would very much appreciate if

- someone can post a good quality example image of such a "rod holder". Even if I am not sure if I can manage to reproduce.

- and if someone has an idea where I can get such a coatless iron screw with a round head. It must be M4 (4mm) x 35mm (or longer). I found one 30mm long (see link), but that would mean to add another 5mm... Maybe one of you has an idea or has one as a spare part. I would be very happy.

Kind regards
Andreas

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Halbrundkopf...2c62%7Ciid%3A9

[Fernando K]

Hello

I do not know if I will give myself to understand, because English is not my language

I think the first thing you should do is know how big the missing screw is. I mean that you must find out the diameter and pitch of the screw, checking the threaded part of the holes in the lock Example [: 5 mm metric screw. by a step of 0.8mm.)

As at that time the diameters and steps were not standardized, it is a bit difficult to get a copy, but it would be necessary to try with numerous screws (metric or Withwort) until obtaining one that threads. Knowing this, it is easy for a turner to modify an existing screw, or to manufacture one from scratch, modifying the hexagonal head to round, according to the surviving example.

Affectionately

[AHorsa]

Hi Fernando,

thanks for your comment! It´s a good idea to modify a hexagonal head!
Actually the diameter of the whole is 3,5mm. So there must be some alterations anyway. The head´s diameter of the surviving example is 8mm. Sadly a 4mm-screw´s head is 7mm. So I guess a way would be: Taking a 5mm screw with hexagonal head (8mm diameter), altering the head and the shaft and adapt the thread (or let a turner do this, which might be more fruitful )

Kind regards
Andreas

[Raf]

hI Andreas
This pistol maybe a bit more complicated than it first appears. Given the conservatism of Italian gunmakers these Brescian type pistols continued to be made well into the eighteenth century with a variety of locks . Flintlock , snaphaunce with or without external buffers and as in your case a southern Italian toe lock.Having said that I agree that in the main this pistol probably belongs to the third quater of the seventeenth century. First question is are you absolutely sure this is the lock it started life with ? The reason for asking is that these pistols are normally of uniformly excellent quality and from the photographs the lock does not seem to be up to the quality of the rest. Secondly the center lockplate screw appears to have been drilled through the wood rather than through the sideplate which is a strangely scruffy thing to do on a pistol of this quality. Also the third sideplate hole, where a belt hook might have been fitted looks like its been blanked of with a domed rivit. All this should be easily resolved by looking at the rebate for the lock to see if their are any signs of it being cut for a different lock. If it looks OK then we need to think again. Another strange thing is the barrel tang which has been shaped to fit round the very nicely executed escutcheon doesnt look right . Also at this date you would expect the barrel tang screw to be fitted from underneath the trigger guard and screwed into the tang. Whatever the answer is its still a nice thing and if it has been modified then this must have occurred fairly early in its working life. Attached are some images of our archaic looking Brescian snaphaunce of a similar date and a potential pattern for the missing ramrod tube .