Snaphaunce pistol - Origin not clear

fernando · 29th October 2006, 07:29 PM

Hi Philip
Obrigado pela sua mensagem.
I have managed to gather a couple random old firearms, but i am a very light weight collector, without a minimum background.
I may however sugest that books or images of Portuguese weapons covering such period are scarce, such as the weapons themselves (except for artillery ).
Even in Portuguese museums you don't find so many of them ... you would quicker find them in private collections out there

.
I wouldn't know of any publications on this Indo-Portuguese matchlock theme, except for ESPINGARDA FEITICEIRA. I guess that the author only
mentioned and showed pictures of determined examples, as he wanted to tipify their basic evolution, according to the scheme he has built up.
This guy would be the first to have most possible important variations, among his 5000 pieces arms collection.
Maybe the examples you recently heard about, don't define basic variants, other than "Indo Portuguese" or "Cingalo Portuguese" influenced, the two main sources where this system spread from ... but you shouldn't take me seriously.
A bit off topic, i have scanned a page of Bulletin of Antique Arms Society, from which Rainer Daehnhardt is President, with pictures of a Cingalo Portuguese specimen.
I will try and find some other authors or images in this Indo Portuguese matchlock subject, and will surely let you know.
Kind regards
fernando
ps
I am trying to tame my scanner.

Philip · 30th October 2006, 05:50 AM

Hi, Fernando
Thanks for scanning the relevant page from the article. The example illustrated is very rare (firearms from Sri Lanka are few and far between). I find the butt stock shape significant because the profile is virtually identical to that of the guns from the Malay peninsula, and the southern part of Vietnam. Note also that the main spring (mola real) of the lock is completely inside and not externally visible. Also an unusual feature both for Portuguese and Oriental "snapping" matchlocks. You most often see the internal spring on some Japanese specimens, but they are not common.

29th October 2006, 07:29 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Philip Obrigado pela sua mensagem. I have managed to gather a couple random old firearms, but i am a very light weight collector, without a minimum background. I may however sugest that books or images of Portuguese weapons covering such period are scarce, such as the weapons themselves (except for artillery ). Even in Portuguese museums you don't find so many of them ... you would quicker find them in private collections out there . I wouldn't know of any publications on this Indo-Portuguese matchlock theme, except for ESPINGARDA FEITICEIRA. I guess that the author only mentioned and showed pictures of determined examples, as he wanted to tipify their basic evolution, according to the scheme he has built up. This guy would be the first to have most possible important variations, among his 5000 pieces arms collection. Maybe the examples you recently heard about, don't define basic variants, other than "Indo Portuguese" or "Cingalo Portuguese" influenced, the two main sources where this system spread from ... but you shouldn't take me seriously. A bit off topic, i have scanned a page of Bulletin of Antique Arms Society, from which Rainer Daehnhardt is President, with pictures of a Cingalo Portuguese specimen. I will try and find some other authors or images in this Indo Portuguese matchlock subject, and will surely let you know. Kind regards fernando ps I am trying to tame my scanner. Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 29th October 2006 at 08:50 PM.

30th October 2006, 05:50 AM	#2
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Interesting Ceylonese gun Hi, Fernando Thanks for scanning the relevant page from the article. The example illustrated is very rare (firearms from Sri Lanka are few and far between). I find the butt stock shape significant because the profile is virtually identical to that of the guns from the Malay peninsula, and the southern part of Vietnam. Note also that the main spring (mola real) of the lock is completely inside and not externally visible. Also an unusual feature both for Portuguese and Oriental "snapping" matchlocks. You most often see the internal spring on some Japanese specimens, but they are not common.