A very rare combined wheel-lock pistol and dagger, ca. 1550-60

Jim McDougall · 5th February 2009, 06:26 PM

Amazing piece! and what is so fascinating is these combination weapons. The concept seems fully understandable...if the firearm misfires, you have an edged weapon already in hand. It does seem that the sword would be terribly balanced, but in a rapidly developing contact in combat...at least you would have something for some degree of thrust.

Interesting also, is how this beautiful gun, which does not have the sword blade, still carries the sword hilt. The eagle head is fantastic, and beautiflly executed. It is easy to see how these later became stylized into the hilt shapes of many hirschfangers in the 17th and 18th centuries. A number of these are shown in Lededynsky's book on the arms of Central Europe, and faithfully have carried forth the combination weapon concept. It must have worked pretty well!!

All best regards,
Jim

5th February 2009, 06:26 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Amazing piece! and what is so fascinating is these combination weapons. The concept seems fully understandable...if the firearm misfires, you have an edged weapon already in hand. It does seem that the sword would be terribly balanced, but in a rapidly developing contact in combat...at least you would have something for some degree of thrust. Interesting also, is how this beautiful gun, which does not have the sword blade, still carries the sword hilt. The eagle head is fantastic, and beautiflly executed. It is easy to see how these later became stylized into the hilt shapes of many hirschfangers in the 17th and 18th centuries. A number of these are shown in Lededynsky's book on the arms of Central Europe, and faithfully have carried forth the combination weapon concept. It must have worked pretty well!! All best regards, Jim