A matchlock chronology, ca. 1520 to 1720

[Pukka Bundook]

Michael,

Thank you for the wonderful photos!
I see some locks have both snapping and lever mechanisms.
This is the first time I have seen both types on one lock plate.

was the snapping lock used more for target work?

Richard.

[Matchlock]

Richard,

All of these mechanisms are from military guns.

Actually, the snap matchlock, or snap tinderlock, was preferred for both hunting and target shooting guns but saw also extensive "service" in fighting.

The first matchlocks in the early 15th century were sear locks activated by pressing a long trigger bar upward which caused the serpentine to move towards the touch hole and return to its original position after the shot had rung out. From early to mid 16th century, the snap matchlock was peferred for military purposes, triggered by a horizontally working push button. In around 1530 we find the first snap tinderlocks activated by means of a "conventional" trigger. Sear locks, however, never came out of military use, and around the 1550's we often see both mechanisms combined, most probably in order to have another igniting system in reserve. E.g., if the match holder failed or the match had gone out, a piece of tinder in the snap cock (which was a real cock because it had to be cocked) could be lit. A complicated and intricate procedure, no doubt.

In fact, in some instances we find double matchlock mechanisms on wall guns up to the end of the 16th century. The tinder snaplock, though, had long since made its way as an additional or reserve mechanism on wheel-locks from the 1530's. This snap or sear matchlock-wheel-lock combinations were highly favorized from ca. 1550 to 1600, then seem to have diappeared from the battlefields for the period of the Thirty Years War, only to face a renaissance in the 1660's/70's. By then, the flintlock had begun taking over from the wheel-lock - and again we find wheel-lock-flintlock (extremely rare) and sear matchlock-flintlock combinations on the same lockplate for a couple of years.
It seems that the "new" ignition system respectively was not quite trusted to work reliably on its own in its early years.

The attachments show:


a snap tinderlock/sear matchlock combination, Nuremberg, ca. 1550



some snap tinderlock/wheel-lock combinations:


- Munich, dated 1532, the lock and barrel etched profusely

- dated 1544

- ca. 1580, from a wall piece

- a fine Suhl military musket in my collection, dated 1602, in my collection

- a Suhl wall piece, ca. 1610


- a Suhl military musket, 1660's, and

- a sear matchlock/flintlock combination, Suhl, ca. 1666 (the famous Montecuccoli system), both in my collection

plus:
a highly unusual dummy wheel-lock mechanism, ca. 1565, which really is a snap matchlock in that it never had a wheel and chain! (in my collection). At first sight, it has the appearance of a high tech wheel-lock but is really a simple snap matchlock.


Michael

[Matchlock]

More views of the dummy wheel-lock.

[Pukka Bundook]

Michael,

Thank you for the wonderful pictures and very detailed explanation on the use of snapping locks.
I knew the snap-lock was used for target work, but had large gaps where military and sporting use was concerned.

I have only seen one other matchlock dressed up as a wheellock, and find this fascinating and somehow understandably "human"...(A desire to appear of a higher status than where one actually belongs!)

As you know Michael, I do love playing about building archaic guns and such, and your incredible photographs are a real inspiration, ...but I don't try and 'forge' originals!
I can't thank you enough for the time you have taken to share these pictures with us!

Richard.

[Matchlock]

Richard,

Thank you so much for your kind lines.

It seems I cannot make any money out of my specialized knowledge, so appreciation is the best I can get for having chosen a domain that far out of the average interest.

And I must say that I feel greatly rewarded by your comments, folks - please keep going keeping me inspired. It's too lonesome a l life ...

And, Ed and Jim, very special thanks go to you for kicking my lazy a.. so many times, buddies! You are great, all of you.

Best wishes from Bavaria to all of you out there; I'm drinking my next dark beer to you - and our forum!

Michael

[fernando]

Thanks for my forum share of that dark beer, Michael.
It is an honour to be in the same place as you and your collection, supported by such skilled knowledge.
With all that you have for sharing, you will allways be willkommen.

Fernando

[Pukka Bundook]

Michael,

Please keep sending us photos of these fascinating arms! I know it is an awful lot of work, taking the pictures, selecting the appropriate ones, etc, and all I can offer in exchange is thanks!
If I were in a position to own an original, I think I would spend many hours sitting holding it, contemplating the first owner, and the so-different world he belonged to!
Such arms are a window to this other age....and maybe even a door, if one were to take a similar arm into the woods and fields and become thoroughly conversant with the every-day workings and peculiarities of such an arm....In other words, we could "remember" things long lost simply by 'doing', and live to some degree, a lifetime beyond our own.

Though bending the forum rules a bit, this is my only matchlock.

Thank you again, Michael.

Richard.