Spanish Miquelet Lock

[Philip]

Having proposed a functional basis for the downward-tilting tails common on Portuguese patilhas in requirements dictated by gunstock fashions of the time, it might also be interesting to explore a stylistic precedent for this very specific shape in an earlier type of Portuguese flintlock mechanism, the fecho de molinhas (spring lock), which had its origins in Portugal in the 17th cent. Despite the appearance of its cock jaw and the combined pan-cover and frizzen, it is distinct from the entire family of miquelets by virtue of its internal mainspring with sears operating on a tumbler mounted on the cock pivot, inside the lockplate. It is more properly classed as a forerunner of the mature form of flintlock. What makes the molinhas lock mechanically distinct if not unique is its complex sear system utilizing a sliding rod called an agulha,(needle) visible in the interior view in one of the images below.

Now, moving aside all mechanical comparisons between this lock and the patilla, let's look at the rear portion of the lockplate. It has a marked downward angle with a rounded end; furthermore there is a "break" in the lower contour of the plate in the form of protruding swelling, or bulge, just to the rear of the cock pivot. On this type of lock, it seems necessitated by the position of an internal screw for mounting one of the sear components. The length and angle of this tail may be due to the design of the sear mechanism, which is larger than that required on a patilla lock, and the operating requirements of the agulha may be a factor as well. (at the same auction that Rick purchased the patilla discussed here, there was offered a molinhas lock which would have made a great study piece but we both declined since its heavily corroded condition made some internal parts barely recognizable, not to mention incapable of being restored to working order).

So we see a tilted tail, even a little bulge delineating it on the lower lock contour, on Rick's Spanish-made patilla. The retention of the bulge may be a functional necessity here because of the need to mount the cock bridle in the same area. But as discussed in a previous post, the design of the sears is not a likely determinant for the angularity. The shape of the buttstock, plus a conservative attachment to an earlier aesthetic might be more significant.

[rickystl]

WOW!!!

Thank you ALL for your positive comments and comprehensive replies. And thank you Philip for the additional interesting reading and knowledge.
I shall keep the additional builder's information referenced with the lock in my library.
The lock is certainly a nice addition to my lock collection. Thanks again everyone.

Rick

[Fernando K]

Hello

Finally, when I said that the shape of the plate is down, it is determined because it takes less place when making the wooden frame, and then, the firing mechanism is horizontal, but slightly inclined. This makes the safety or half mount c act l on the curve of the p a t i l l a.
Attached is the image of a lock produced in Salamanca, in 1718, a drawing by Calvo of the lock of a Spanish pistol, and a Portuguese lock.

Affectionately

[Fernando K]

Salamanca, 1718

[Philip]

Originally Posted by Fernando K

Hello

Finally, when I said that the shape of the plate is down, it is determined because it takes less place when making the wooden frame,

Affectionately

Thanks for the images and your very interesting comment.

Regarding wood removal for a smaller lock recess in the side of the stock: the deep internal channels for the sear spring and arms would be the same, either way, but you do have a valid point as regarding the peripheral inletting for the lock plate. The French style plate which we both posted examples of does cover a greater area, and requires removal of more wood (to the depth of a few millimeters. since only the thickness of the plate is accommodated here).

However, don't you think that the removal of less wood on the Portuguese stocks is not so much due to the downward bend in the lockplate tail, but to the GENERAL SHAPE OF THE ENTIRE PLATE, which is essentially the "wasp waisted" or "hourglass" form of the Ripoll-style Spanish miquelet lockplate, which as Lavin and Neal state also became a characteristic of later "provincial" style Spanish gunmaking? What I mean is the middle part of the plate narrows and is quite "skinny". Furthermore, the reversed position of the frizzen spring means that the front end of the lockplate is shorter, requiring less wood to be removed to fit the lock.

After all, whether a tail was straight or tilted, wouldn't the same amount of wood be covered by it? (Disregarding the outline of the rest of the lockplate)

Considering the rather conservative aesthetic seen in much of later Portuguese gunmaking (as in the shape of cock jaws which I mentioned earlier) it is perhaps no wonder why the Ripoll-style lockplate shape (modified with downward tail) was so popular even on high-class Portuguese sporting guns for the royal court, until the 19th cent. Contrast that with most of the guns made by Spain's royal smiths of the same time period, with such a heavy French influence that even on patilla-lock fowling pieces, the old-style Ripoll plate was not used.