Would you care for a (special) Port ?

[fernando]

Hi Jim,
Thanks for your enthusiastic input.

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... Now, any chance of finding an actual example of that lock? and learning more on the gunmakers and book you describe ...

Let's see by parts:
The bottle still exists and belongs to my weapon's (not whine) collection . Although it is close to rare (only 1000 numbered units were bottled), i think i know where to find another 'copy' .
I don't think this specific lock unit exists, but certainly a few of this top rare things can be found in Rainer Daehnhardt's private collection, together with thousands of other locks; he keeps an imense collection. The book was first published in 1718, a period when gunmaking was a trade of secrecy, which created a great impact, as it revealed all tricks and techniques in making all parts of a gun. The authors were three gunmaking brothers, having one avoided to figure in the book publication, for unknown reasons, and the other two having signed the book with anagrams, as was the custom. It was the most complete work ever published.
It was finally translated to english in 1974 by Rainer Daehnhadt and W. Keith Neal, a well known collector,expert and author. It was published in a bilingual version by Sothby Parke Bernet ISBN 0 85667 014 6.
Fernando

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