A fine Nuremberg matchlock Landsknecht harquebus, dated 1539

Matchlock · 5th December 2008, 07:58 PM

Richard,

I am afraid that no one ever cared for such minuteae (in fact, Jim's gotta be credited my for teaching me that charmin' Latin word - hope I spelt it right; I used to be good at Latin at grammar school but forgot most of it by now ...

) before.

We do, though ...

m

Matchlock · 7th December 2008, 02:09 PM

... at the Brukental Museum, Sibiu/Romania.

The scans taken from very bad prints in a 1970's Romanian catalog.

Michael

Pukka Bundook · 7th December 2008, 02:58 PM

Michael,

These locks appear to be the most "rustic" I've seen whilst still having all the essentials of a matchlock mechanism!

I think it is more the blacksmith construction than anything, as these snapping mechanisms appears of sound enough design.
By the stocks, it looks like they have been badly neglected for a very long time!
I see an exclamation mark after the calibre of the first one, (12mm) I sometimes think we might miss important details if we don't take note of your notes!
This does appear a rather small bore. Is this very rare?

The last lock appears of a rather advanced design, with it's trigger sear, yet the quality of work seems very provincial.

In a way, One would think it was a lock similar to this that the Japanese copied forever.....except their springs were never up to much!

You really do post some interesting stuff!
Can you tell me Michael;
The snap-lock with button on the side-plate, Is the button pressed with the thumb?
I have never had hold of one, so must ask!

Also, The Snap-locks often work the opposite way to a sear lock, the cock moving forward to the pan.
Is this for ease in cocking?, or because the cock snapping down into the pan could send powder back over the fence into the firer's eyes, if made with the cock snapping backwards into the pan?........or some other reason?

Thanks again, and please forgive my questions!

R.

Matchlock · 7th December 2008, 03:33 PM

Richard,

I knew that would get you started.

As you remarked perfectly, the early harquebuses used to have rather small bores, ca. 12 mm. As there are so few around it is vey rare indeed to find one of such small caliber.

I also fully agree with you in that the stocks do look rather provincial. I think maybe Romania had the barrels and locks delivered from Nuremberg and other manufacturing centers while the stocks were home made.

As to pressing the lateral push button trigger, this was quite certainly done with the index finger, just as in later trigger development. Using the index finger allows one to keep quite a good grip of the stock with the thumb and the rest of the hand.

I am afraid that my own pondering has not led to any different explanations of the snap lock cocks moving either backwards of forwards into the pan than those considered by you. I think the old gunmakers were just trying, offering both methods to be tested by the shooters.

Thank you again for all these brilliant questions,

Michael

Matchlock · 7th December 2008, 03:46 PM

I attach images of my earliest snap tinder lock with a lateral push button release, ca. 1510-15.

It was in heavily rusty excavated condition when I got it, with the cock frozen in the cocked position (!) - and still the one armed spring had retained much of its original tension ...

A close before/after comparison should illustrate that the long time and careful restoration work has really saved the extremely rare piece.

Michael

Matchlock · 7th December 2008, 04:53 PM

The barrel struck with the maker's mark of Peter Hofkircher, Styria.

The lock with part plate of brass, only for the serpentine cock. The blackened full stock of limewood, with the muzzle section of the barrel left unstocked. The ramrod channel drilled a bit out of the middle to avoid contact with the recoil hook.

The whole piece photograped standing upright against a row of matchlock wall pieces of mid 16th to early 16t centruy dates.

Michael

Pukka Bundook · 8th December 2008, 02:23 PM

Good morning Michael.

Your excavated lock looks wonderful now. the 'before' pic. looks like it was about ready for the junk pile!
Brilliant job in saving the 'life' of such an early and rare lock!

The wall gun by Peter Hofkircher has some very interesting details.
Can you tell me why the short lock-plate, with spring nailed to the stock,...when locks were being made with all parts mounted on the plate before this date? Economy measure?

What calibre would such a wall-gun be?
The off-set ramrod hole makes sense, but is it not rare for a wall-gun to be fitted with a ramrod?
I thought I knew a little bit about matchlocks, but the more I learn, the less I know!

I also note the use of limewood, It appears to have been rather common for stocks at this time.
What characteristics does limewood posess, to make it desirable for gunstocks?
Is it very resistant to splitting like beech, or some other property?

I find it fascinating that limewood will still give off its aroma after 450 years!

looking at the row of wall-guns, the butt-stocks look as varied as can be! it would appear that the artist was coming out in the men who did the stocking.
Those with a very narrow butt-stock would be I think, rather painful to fire,...except for the wall hook.

You do give me much to ponder!...

R.

7th December 2008, 02:09 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Landsknecht's matchlock harquebuses, partly of Nuremberg make, ca. 1520-1540 ... at the Brukental Museum, Sibiu/Romania. The scans taken from very bad prints in a 1970's Romanian catalog. Michael Attached Images

7th December 2008, 02:58 PM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Michael, These locks appear to be the most "rustic" I've seen whilst still having all the essentials of a matchlock mechanism! I think it is more the blacksmith construction than anything, as these snapping mechanisms appears of sound enough design. By the stocks, it looks like they have been badly neglected for a very long time! I see an exclamation mark after the calibre of the first one, (12mm) I sometimes think we might miss important details if we don't take note of your notes! This does appear a rather small bore. Is this very rare? The last lock appears of a rather advanced design, with it's trigger sear, yet the quality of work seems very provincial. In a way, One would think it was a lock similar to this that the Japanese copied forever.....except their springs were never up to much! You really do post some interesting stuff! Can you tell me Michael; The snap-lock with button on the side-plate, Is the button pressed with the thumb? I have never had hold of one, so must ask! Also, The Snap-locks often work the opposite way to a sear lock, the cock moving forward to the pan. Is this for ease in cocking?, or because the cock snapping down into the pan could send powder back over the fence into the firer's eyes, if made with the cock snapping backwards into the pan?........or some other reason? Thanks again, and please forgive my questions! R. Last edited by Pukka Bundook; 7th December 2008 at 03:12 PM.

7th December 2008, 03:46 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	I attach images of my earliest snap tinder lock with a lateral push button release, ca. 1510-15. It was in heavily rusty excavated condition when I got it, with the cock frozen in the cocked position (!) - and still the one armed spring had retained much of its original tension ... A close before/after comparison should illustrate that the long time and careful restoration work has really saved the extremely rare piece. Michael Attached Images

7th December 2008, 04:53 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Styrian wallgun with snap tinder lock, ca. 1525 The barrel struck with the maker's mark of Peter Hofkircher, Styria. The lock with part plate of brass, only for the serpentine cock. The blackened full stock of limewood, with the muzzle section of the barrel left unstocked. The ramrod channel drilled a bit out of the middle to avoid contact with the recoil hook. The whole piece photograped standing upright against a row of matchlock wall pieces of mid 16th to early 16t centruy dates. Michael Attached Images

5th December 2008, 07:58 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Richard, I am afraid that no one ever cared for such minuteae (in fact, Jim's gotta be credited my for teaching me that charmin' Latin word - hope I spelt it right; I used to be good at Latin at grammar school but forgot most of it by now ... ) before. We do, though ... m

7th December 2008, 03:33 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Richard, I knew that would get you started. As you remarked perfectly, the early harquebuses used to have rather small bores, ca. 12 mm. As there are so few around it is vey rare indeed to find one of such small caliber. I also fully agree with you in that the stocks do look rather provincial. I think maybe Romania had the barrels and locks delivered from Nuremberg and other manufacturing centers while the stocks were home made. As to pressing the lateral push button trigger, this was quite certainly done with the index finger, just as in later trigger development. Using the index finger allows one to keep quite a good grip of the stock with the thumb and the rest of the hand. I am afraid that my own pondering has not led to any different explanations of the snap lock cocks moving either backwards of forwards into the pan than those considered by you. I think the old gunmakers were just trying, offering both methods to be tested by the shooters. Thank you again for all these brilliant questions, Michael

8th December 2008, 02:23 PM	#7
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Good morning Michael. Your excavated lock looks wonderful now. the 'before' pic. looks like it was about ready for the junk pile! Brilliant job in saving the 'life' of such an early and rare lock! The wall gun by Peter Hofkircher has some very interesting details. Can you tell me why the short lock-plate, with spring nailed to the stock,...when locks were being made with all parts mounted on the plate before this date? Economy measure? What calibre would such a wall-gun be? The off-set ramrod hole makes sense, but is it not rare for a wall-gun to be fitted with a ramrod? I thought I knew a little bit about matchlocks, but the more I learn, the less I know! I also note the use of limewood, It appears to have been rather common for stocks at this time. What characteristics does limewood posess, to make it desirable for gunstocks? Is it very resistant to splitting like beech, or some other property? I find it fascinating that limewood will still give off its aroma after 450 years! looking at the row of wall-guns, the butt-stocks look as varied as can be! it would appear that the artist was coming out in the men who did the stocking. Those with a very narrow butt-stock would be I think, rather painful to fire,...except for the wall hook. You do give me much to ponder!... R.