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>i9S

SMALL

ARMS

By

Frederick

Wilkinson

With

190

photographs

72120274

c^

CO

CO

CO

OJ

o

o

No

one

who

has

ever

admired

the

craftsmanship

and

lure

of

weapons

will

be

able

to

resist

SMALL

ARMS.

Containing

the

complete

history

of small

firearms;

the

techniques

of

the

gunsmith;

equipment

used

by

combatants,

sportsmen

and

hunters,

SMALL

ARMS

is the

authoritative

survey

of

one

of

the

most

fascinating

aspects

of

the

craft

of

weaponry.

In

addition,

it

traces

the

development

of

the

match-lock,

wheel-lock,

flint-lock

and

per-

cussion

lock.

The

chapters

on

collectors

and

collecting,

fakes

and

copies,

repairs

and

restora-

tion,

and

books

and

collections

make

SMALL

ARMSa

collector's

treasure

of

both

practical

information

and

sensible

advice.

The

author

includes

a

gallery

of

I

90

vivid

photographs

with

cap-

tions

that

are

detailed

discussions

of

the

objects

displayed.

en

J



>:

SMALL

ARMS



Jacket

Illustration

—

Front:

A

powder tester

by

John

Manton

and one

of

a pair

of

brass

framed,

tap-action

pocket pistols

by

Jack-

son of

Market

Harborough.

Both

pistol

and tester

are

from

the

Rabett

collection. Back:

Silver

butt

cap

from

a

mid-eighteenth

century,

Queen

Anne

type

flint-

lock

pistol

by Covers of Dublin

(see

plate

75).

Frontispiece:

See

plates

41

and

42.



'4^

SMALL

ARMS

Frederick

Wilkinson

HAWTHORN BOOKS,

INC.

Publishers

•

New

York



(^

Frederick

Wilkinson,

196^.

Copyright

under

International

and

Pan-

American

Copyright

Conventions.

All rights

reserved,

including

the

right

to

reproduce

this

book, or portions thereof, in any

form, except

for

the

inclusion of brief quotations in a

review.

All

inquiries

should

be addressed

to

Hawthorn

Books,

Inc.,

70

Fifth Avenue, New York City 1001 1. Library

of

Congress

Catalogue

Card Number:

66-16162.

First

American Edition,

1966

TO

TERESA

AND

JOANNA

Printed in

Great

Britain

8298



CONTENTS

Introduction

7

PART I

1 The

Story of

Small

Arms

1

2

Techniques of

the

Gunsmith

32

3

Accessories

and

Extras

42

4

Collectors

and

Collecting

5^3

^

Fakes

and

Copies

62

6

Repairs

and Restoration

70

7

Books

and

Collections

77

PART

II

The

Matchlock

86

The

Wheellock

96

The

Flintlock

1

1

^

The

Percussion

Lock

-

200

Index

2^2



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Plate numbers are

in

bold face

Many

kind

friends

have

helped, directly

and

indirectly,

in

the

production

of

this

book.

Some supplied

information

and others very

generously

allowed me a free

run

of their

collections and even allowed me to

borrow

some of their

finest pieces.

To all

these

friends,

especially

those whose names appear

in

the

list, I offer my

very

sincere

thanks

and gratefully

acknowledge

my

indebtedness.

In

addition, both I and the publishers wish

to

thank

all

the

following

for permission

to

reproduce

photographs:

R.

& P. Bedford

50;

151, 152,

153,

167,

168,

169.

G.

E.

Bennett

19,

29,

44;

16,

17,

61, 62,

63,

81,

82,

99,

130, 141,

143,

144.

H.

L. Blackmore

13;

26,

33,

40,

48.

F.

Bubear

30, 56, 57,

126, 127, 128, 129.

R.

Chapman

50,

51, 52, 53.

I.

Davies

170,

173.

S. Durrant

148,

154,

158.

Dominion Museum of New

Zealand

2,

38,

145, 147,

159,

161,

162.

Fairclough (Arms)

Ltd.,

34,

49,

no,

125.

D. S.

H. Gyngell

23, 76;

7,

12,

20,

21,

23,

24, 25, 27,

28,

29,

32,

35,

36,

37,

39, 44,

45,

47,

65,

74, 75,

76.

77.

78,

79,

80,

83, 84,

85,

86,

91, 94,

95, 97,

98,

loi,

102,

103,

105,

io6,

107,

108,

132,

133,

•38,

139,

140,

165.

G.

Kellam

2j;

66,

67,

68,

69,

70,

71, 72,

73,

87,

88,

89, 92,

93,

104,

134,

13s,

172.

G.

Knowles,

Frontispiece;

41,

42.

A. Littler

46,

54.

E.

Perry

4,

58, 109,

118,

136,

155,

156.

Dr. R.

J.

Rabett,

Front

jacket.

Smithsonian Institution

i

16. H.M. Tower of

London (Crown Copyright)

i,

3,

31,

43,

iii, ii2,

113, 114,

157,

163.

Trustees

of

British

Museum

40.

E.

Valentine

13.

Victoria

and

Albert

Museum

(Crown

Copyright)

5, 59,

60. Wallace Collection

(reproduced

by permission

of the Trustees of the Wallace

Collection)

6,

8,

9,

10,

11,

14, 15,

120,

I2i, 122,

123, 124,

171.

Westgate

Museum,

Canterbury

119.

Winchester

Gun

Museum,

Connecticut

117.

P.

WooUacott

22.



INTRODUCTION

It

may

be

asked,

with some apparent

justification,

why

anyone

should be

encouraged to

study

or

collect antique

firearms.

It

could be

argued that these

are

lethal

weapons

designed

to

kill

and

maim

and as such

have

no

place in a collectors'

world; the

only

possible

reason

for

such an

interest would appear

to be a

marked

fascination with

violence.

In

fact, there is

no

basis

whatsoever

for

this charge when

levelled against

confirmed

collectors.

It

is usually

difficult, if not impossible,

for

a

collector to

con-

vey any

feeling

of

his enthusiasm

to

a

non-collector;

there

is

little or no point of

contact

;

there

is

no

common

ground

shared

by the two

sides. In

the case of weapons,

however, the

gap

is

much

smaller than

in almost

any

other

field.

The

usual

reaction,

at least in the male,

to

an

old pistol is

immediate and

dramatic.

When

holding

an

antique

firearm

there

is

no

difficulty

in

day-

dreaming

of

pirates,

high adventure and

highwaymen.

Few

would deny this

immediate, possibly

childish

reaction, but

at

least a

response has

been

evoked.

For the true enthusiast

this romantic

stage

does not

last for

long.

Soon

the

collector

realises

that

each

weapon has

an

intrinsic

fascination

of its own

and

the original purpose

of the

weapon

recedes

from

his mind. A

majority of collectors

seldom,

if

ever,



Introduction

think of

the purpose

for

which

the firearm

was

clesicrned.

This

is

not the dehberate

or conscious

exclusion

of an unpleasant

fact,

but

rather

the realisation that each

weapon has an

aesthetic

appeal

quite

divorced

from

its

lethal

purpose. Until the

advent

of

mechanisation

in

the

mid-nineteenth

century,

every

weapon

was

unique, differing

in

detail

from its apparent twin.

A

number

of craftsmen and

artists

lavished

their skill and

care

on

the

weapon

and produced

an

object

which

was

both

functional

and

beautiful. Every

form

of

decorative

material

was

used,

ranging

from rich fabrics, precious stones,

down

the scale

to brass

wire

and

nails.

Etching,

engraving

and inlay were all

used to enhance

the

appearance

of

a

well-balanced

and,

for

its

period,

a

highly

efficient

piece of machinery.

The advent of mechanisation

did

not

mean

that

all

weapons

became identical. Indeed

the

reverse

is nearer the

truth,

for

the

great

advances in

technology of

the

nineteenth

centurv propa-

gated

a flood of gadgets,

innovations

and

patents,

greater

than

ever

before.

For the collector there is a

rich

field

in nineteenth-

century weapons.

Whatever

the reason, and

many

are

suggested, there can

be

no

disputing

the

fact

that interest

in collecting

firearms

has

increased tremendously since the end

of

World

War 11.

The

greater

demand, especially

from

America, has

meant

that

prices

have risen accordingly.

Only

the wealthiest

of

collectors,

or

perhaps

the

luckiest, can hope to

add

top-quality

pieces

to

their

collection.

This is

not

to

say

that

the enthusiast

of

modest

means

cannot

hope

to

build

up

an

interesting

collection

-

it

is

not

easy

to find low-priced

items

but there

are

plenty about and fabulous

finds

still

occur.

One

could

expound at length

on

the

possibilities

and pleasures

of

collecting

small

arms,

but

in this

book

I

have

preferred

to

concentrate

on an outline

of their fascinating history in addition

to

the

practical

demands of

collecting

and the

necessary

dis-

cussion

of such

ancillary

subjects

as

techniques of

gunsmiths

and

8



Introduction

collections

open

to

the enthusiast. Less

emphasis has heen

put

on the

ornate, unusual

and expensive and

more

on

the

ordinary

weapons.

The

great majority

of

photographs

are appearing

in

print for

the

first

time

and

are

mainly

from

private

collections.

Finally,

many

lascinatino; hy-ways have reluctantly been Iclt

unexplored in

the hope

and

expectation that the reader

will

discover them for himself.

Page lo.

This is one of a number

of plates from

Military

Antiquities

by

Francis Grose

(1786).

The

plates

were

based

on

a

series of

illustrations from

Exercise at

Arms

by

Jacob

de

Gheyn

(1607).

The

powder

horns

for charging and

priming

can

be

seen

as

well

as a

spare

length

of

match

hanging

at the

left. The

bullet

pouch

hangs above the

horns.



I

THE

STORY

OF SMALL

ARMS

To

the

knight,

secure

in his fine

steel

armour,

the

roar of

explosion and the clouds of smoke that first

drifted across

the

battlefields

of

Europe

in the early fourteenth century

must

have

seemed

like visitations of the

devil.

Indeed

even the sulphurous

smell seemed

to

emphasise

an

infernal

connection. The

con-

temporary

chroniclers soon

began

associating the black powder

with the

black

fiend and

emphasising

that gunpowder was

indeed

an invention

of

the devil.

Both

the

Chinese

and

the

Muslims

have

been

credited

with

the invention

of

gunpowder at a

very

early

date,

but

present-day

research

tends

to

dismiss the

previous

extravagant

claims.

The

best

available evidence

seems to suggest that

the Chinese were

the

first

to

discover the incendiary

qualities

of

a mixture

of

charcoal, sulphur and saltpetre some time during

the

eleventh

century.

There

is

no

reason

to

suppose

that

the

Chinese

used

cannons

any

earlier

than

Europeans.

How

and

when the

knowledge

of

gunpowder

first reached

Europe

is not

at all clear. There are contemporary

statements

which

could

be

taken

as referring

to

gunpowder

but there

can

be

no

doubt that

Roger

Bacon

knew of

its

composition in

the

thirteenth

century.

This scholar

gives

details

of its formula in

a

simply coded

passage

in one

of

his

books.

The

invention

of

the

cannon is likewise shrouded

in mystery,

but

nearly

all the

legends ascribe

the

dubious honour

to a

German

II



The Story

of

Small

Arms

monk

of

the

fourteenth

century.

The story

varies

in detail, but

commonly describes

how

Black

Berthold

was experimenting with

chemicals in a

container

when an explosion occurred and threw

the

lid

into

the

air.

The

result

of

this

unplanned

demonstration

of

explosive

power

was

to

initiate

the idea of a

cannon.

It

is a

delightfully feasible

story

but, unfortunately, seems to have no

basis

whatsoever,

and

research suggests

that

Berthold himself

was

a myth

invented

at

a later date.

The

earliest

reliable evidence

of cannon

is

usually accepted as

being a picture

shown in an

illustrated manuscript of

1326.

A

small

picture

shows a knight

about

to

fire a large vase-shaped

container,

from the

neck

of which

projects

the head

of

an

arrow. It is of interest

to

note

that arrows

intended

for

muskets

were

still

held in

the

Tower

of

London

stores as

late as

1600.

Artillery

powered

by

gunpowder

was almost

certainly

used

in

the

Battle

of Crecy

in

1346,

but

its

effect

was more frightening

than fatal.

The arrow rather

than

the

bullet did execution in

that battle. However,

from

this

date on

references to

cannon

became

increasingly

common.

The

early

cannons were

usually cast in bronze

or copper and

were

simply barrels fastened

to

some

form

of

heavy baseboard.

They were made in two

sections

—

one

a long tube and the

other

a

short

cylinder closed

at one

end.

Into

this small chamber

went

the powder and

a

projectile

of

stone

or iron.

The

chamber

was

then

locked into position against

the end

of

the

barrel.

The

tip

of

a

red hot

iron

was

placed

into

a

small

touch hole

situated

at the

top of

the chamber and

the

cannon

fired. The

gunner

often

stood

in

as

much peril as his enemy,

for

it

was

not uncommon

for

the weapon

to

explode

killina

all the

crew.

James

II of

Scotland

perished thus whilst

directing

a

siege

at

Roxburgh

in

August

1460.

In

general,

artillery was used onlv in siege

warfare, blasting

holes in city

or

castle walls

and demolishing

defences,

and

the

guns

were usually fixed and not easily

transportable. However,

12



The

Story

of

Small

Arms

it

was not

long

before

the

idea

of a

small,

easily

portable

weapon

was developed

and

the

so-called

handgun

was

the

result.

These

simple tubes

of iron

varied

in

length

from

a few

inches

to

several

feet

but

were

almost

invariably

mounted

on

long

wooden

stocks.

The

body was

cast

in

one

piece and

the

powder

and

ball

were

inserted

by

way

of the

muzzle.

Some

of the

early

cannon

were

loaded

in the same

way.

Aiming

was

almost

impossible;

at best

the

weapon

was

unreliable

and

at worst

completely

useless.

fcfraK

i

Three-barrel, metal handgun from

the Far

East.

The

barrels arc

drilled

into

a

solid

block and

each is

equipped

with

a separate

touch-hole

at

the

base

of

a

saucer-like

depression.

There

are

no

pan

covers

each

time

a

barrel

was discharged,

the

gun was

rotated

and the

next

pan

primed.

Overall

length

7

in.,

barrel

3I

in.,

bore

-5

in.

In

a

document of

141

8

there

occurs

the

first mention

of

a

hackbut

or

hookgun which was

the

first firearm

that

could

be

said

to

be

aimed. The

long

tube was

fitted

to a

wooden stock

from

which

projected a

hook

or

lug

to fit over

a wall

and

by

so

doing reduced

the

kick

back

or

recoil. /

These

early

handguns

were

noisy,

unreliable

and

often

in-

effective

but,

nevertheless,

they

represented

the be^innina

of

a

revolution

in

warfare.

No

longer

Nvas

the

armoured

knight

the

13



The Stoiy

of

Small

Arms

most

important

part of

the

army.

The simplest

peasant,

with

a

minimum

of

training and

a

certain

amount of

luck, could

now

strike

down the

flower of

chivalry.

The

longbow

required

a

great

deal

of

skill in

its

use

and

long

training

was

necessary

;

the

crossbow

was

slow

and

expensive

to

make

;

but

the

handgun

was a

weapon

that

could be

produced

cheaply

and in quantity.

An absolute

minimum

of

skill

was

required and only the

thickest,

and hence

the

most

cumbersome,

of

armour

was protection

against the

bullet. It was the

beginning of

the

end

for

armour

although

it

was

not to

disappear

for

several

centuries.

Examples

of

these

early

handguns are

extremely

rare, though

an

apparently

ancient

example

occasionally comes

along, in

appearance

they

are

very

similar

to

the

original

type;

but,

in

fact,

there

is

every

reason

to

believe

that

they are

of

com-

paratively

recent

manufacture,

originating

in

the

East.

The necessity

of some

means of

heating

the

'firing' wire

severely

limited

the mobility

of the

hand

gunner

but by the

middle

of

the

fifteenth

century

this

restriction

had been

re-

moved

by

the

introduction of

the

slowmatch.

A

length

of

cord

was

boiled

in a

solution

containing, among

other

things,

salt-

petre,

and then

allowed

to dry.

When

the

cord

was

lit it

burned

slowly

with

a glowing

end which

could

be

used

to

fire the

charge

of

powder.

The

operation

was

entirely

manual

at first

but

the

addition of an

S-shaped

lever,

or

serpentine,

rendered

it

automatic.

This lever was

fixed

to

the side of

the

stock, the

glowing end of

the

match was

fastened

at

the

top

of

the

serpen-

tine

and

pressure on

the

lower

section

depressed the

glowing

end

on

to

the

touch

hole.

The

matchlock,

as this

new

weapon

was

called,

was

at

first

nothing more

than

the

old

handgun

equipped

with

a

serpentine, but

soon

the

stock

was

adapted

ami

by the

early

sixteenth

century

it

had

a

pronounced

downward

curve.

By

about

1^30

the

matchlock

had

taken on

its

most

characteristic

form,

and from

Italy

this style

spread

northwards,

reaching

England

via the

Low

Countries.

14



The

Stoij

of

Small

Arms

This

arquebus

was long-barrelled,

heavy and

cumbersome.

The

walnut

stock

was

usually

quite plain

although some

speci-

mens

were

inlaid with

mother-of-pearl,

ivory and

bone.

The

high

combed

butt

was

cut

away

to

facilitate

a

good

grip.

The

barrel,

up

to

forty

inches long

and weighing anything

up

to

twenty

pounds, was so

heavy

that

it was

impossible to

hold the

weapon

steady

enough

to

aim.

The

musketeer

overcame

this

problem

by

means of

an

ash staff

surmounted

by

a

U-shaped

holder.

With

this rest he

could prop up

the

barrel and so

take

aim.

The

simple,

hand-operated

serpentine

was

now

replaced by a

system

of

levers

operated

by a long

bar

or

trigger.

During the

early

part

of

the

sixteenth century a

snaplock had been

in use,

but

it

had

been

discarded

as being

unsafe

:

the arm

which

held

the

glowing

slowmatch

was at rest

with the match

pressed into

the

pan.

To

prepare for

firing

the

arm

was

pulled

up,

away

from

the pan,

and

held in

that

position by

means

of

a

small projection.

When

a stud or

trigger

was

pressed

the

arm was

released

and,

impelled

by

a

spring,

moved

forward

and

down

to

ignite

the

priming.

The

danger

of

accidental

discharge

is obvious

and

for

this

reason the

more

usual

matchlock mechanism

became

common.

Here

the

arm

at rest

was away

from the

pan; pressure

on

the

lever

or

trigger

swung

the

arm

forward

and

down

to

fire

the

weapon

;

immediately

pressure

was

removed

the

arm

rose up

and away

from

the

pan.

A

great

many of

these

muskets

were

fitted

with

a

small

tube

above

the

breech

and

this

served

as

a

peep sight. A

smaller

lighter

version of the

arquebus

was

known

as a caliver.

The unrest

at

the

end of the

sixteenth

century and

the

begin-

ning

of the

seventeenth

century

stimulated a

number of

writers

to

produce

instruction

books for

those who

wished

to

become

proficient soldiers.

Jacob

de

Gheyn,

writing in

1607,

illustrates

some

twenty

to

thirty

separate

commands for

the loading

of the

matchlock,

and

training

recruits

must

have been a

tedious

and

^5



The Story

oj

Small Arms

hazardous

business.

The

musketeer

had

to

manage

the heavy

musket,

the rest and a length of

matcli

glowing

at

both ends.

Thus encumbered,

he had

to take

a charge of

powder,

pour

it

into

the

barrel, take a

bullet approximately three-quarters

of an

inch

in diameter, insert

that

into the barrel

and

then

push it

well down

with his

ramrod.

Next he replaced

the ramrod in its

housing beneath the

barrel

and

tapped the butt

smartly to

ensure

some

powder

entered

the

touch

hole.

From a second

container

he

placed a

pinch

of

Hner-grained

powder,

called

priming

powder,

into the pan. He

next

inserted

one end

of

the

glowing

match

into the jaws

of

the serpentine and

now he

was

ready

to

fire.

Alter

each

shot

the

match

was

withdrawn

from

the

serpen-

tine

and the whole process

repeated.

During all this time

the

musketeer was defenceless and for this

reason

musketeers

were

often interspaced with groups

of

pikemen

who could repel

enemy

cavalry

during this dangerous

loading time.

Practice, no

doubt, reduced

the time

of

loadincr

to

a

minimum,

but

other

drawbacks of the matchlock

were less easily

overcome.

The

foin -foot

lenath

of

match

was

a

constant

hindrance

and

menace. Both

ends

were kept alight so

that an immediate

replacement

was

at hand should

one end

be

extinguished.

The

musketeer

held the

match in

his

hand

whilst

loading, and

the

risk of

accidental

explosion

wis

very areat

indeed. If there

was

the

prospect of action the

match

had

to

be

kept

constantly

alight

and in rainy weather this was no easy task.

The

glowing match

effectively betrayed

the

presence

of

troops and

precluded

any

element

of surprise.

Difficult

though

it

was

for

the foot soldier

to

manage

his

matchlock,

for

the

horseman

it

was

almost

impossible,

and

indeed matchlock pistols

are

extremely rare in Europe. Henry

VIII

had

his

bodyguard equipped ^\ ith

a

shield,

to

the

centre

of

which was fitted a matchlock

pistol

which

was

also breech-

loading,

a

most unusual and rare combination.

The

matchlock

was

a

simple

weapon,

cheaply

and

easily

i6



The

Stoiy

of

Small Arms

manufactured. In

1^88

a musket,

rest

and

flask

cost

twenty-seven

shillings,

and this low cost

meant

that

whole

armies

could be

equipped

with

them at minimum

expense. However,

despite

the

large

numbers

which must

have

been produced

in

Europe,

comparatively

few have

survived,

and

for this

reason

genuine

specimens

are

rare and command

a

high

price

on the

antique

market.

Whilst

it is

very

unlikely

that the average collector will

acquire a European

matchlock,

it

is

still

easy

to

find

a

similar

weapon

made

in

the

Orient.

The Portuguese sailors reached

India

at

the

end

of

the

fifteenth

century

and,

of

course,

their

matchlocks

went

with

them.

The Indians

were

greatly

impressed

by

these

marvellous

weapons

and sought

to

acquire

them

for

their

own

use.

Soon

the

Indian

swordsmiths and armourers

were

applying their

very

considerable

skills

to

the

production of

gunbarrels.

Unlike

most

European barrels

these

were

commonly

inlaid with gold

or embellished in

some

other way.

The

stocks

were made

from

many beautiful woods and again

were

richly

decorated

with

any

number of

materials.

The

matchlock was

made in India

right

up

until

the

beginning of

the

present century

and many

of the

Indian

princes had

armouries

filled

with

fine

quality weapons.

Many

of these

armouries

are being

sold and it

is possible

to

find good quality specimens

at reasonable prices.

The

manufacture

has

stopped

now, and

Indian matchlocks will

become increasingly

less

common as time

goes

on.

The

Portuguese

were

also

responsible

for

the

introduction

of

the matchlock

to

Japan,

and the

Japanese

began

to

manufacture

them as

well.

Japan

is

a

rather

special

case,

and

owing

to

the

country's

isolation

the

Japanese

gunmaking industry

jumped

from

matchlock

to

cartridge

weapons

with little or none of the

intermediate

development which

took

place in Europe.

Japanese

matchlocks

are

easily

recognised

with

their rather thick barrels,

short stocks and

generally

stubby butts.

The barrels are usually

of very fine

quality

whereas

their

springs

tend

to

be rather

weak

S.A.

'7



The

Story

of

Small Arms

and

ineffective.

The

snaplock,

long

discarded in Europe is

usually

found

on

Japanese

weapons.

Japanese

swordsmiths were experts in

metalwork and

their

skill

produced

some

exquisitely

decorated

barrels.

Brass

and

silver

inlay

were

common and

brass decoration is often found

on

the

stock

as

well.

Japan

also

produced

matchlock pistols

ranging

from a

normal

size

down

to

tiny

specimens

only

a few inches

long, and it

is

difficult

to

believe that

these

tiny ones

were

any-

thing

more than

toys or

models.

There is

one

common feature of nearly all Eastern matchlocks,

and

that is in

the

operation

of

the serpentine.

It

is

true to

say

that,

with

few exceptions,

all

European matchlocks

have

the

serpentine moving

towards

the

butt,

but almost

invariably

the

Eastern

matchlock

has

the serpentine

moving

the opposite

way,

i.e. towards the barrel.

There

seems to be

little

to

recommend

one system or

the

other

and it

is rather

difficult

to

see

how the

two

systems

remained

so

different.

It

may

be

that

Eastern

conservatism, or

love

of

tradition,

preserved

the

original

mechanism

of the

first

European

matchlocks

that

went

to

the

East, although it seems rather unlikely that

this

is

the

real

reason

.

In Europe the

matchlock

continued in use until

the end

of

the

seventeenth

century, but

this

long

life

was mainly due

to

its

cheapness for

it

was, by

that

time,

an

old-fashioned and

out-

moded

weapon.

The

gunmakers

had

sought

for

some

simpler

system

of

producing

a

flame or spark to

ignite

the

priming

of

the gun.

The

first practical

solution was

the wheellock. The

lock,

which

first appears at the beginning

of

the sixteenth

century,

was self-

igniting and, unlike the match,

was

ready for use

at a

moment's

notice.

The

principle was

simple

-

nothing

more

than

rubbing a

piece

of

mineral known

as

pyrites

against

a

rough-edged, steel

wheel.

The operating mechanism was rather

complicated,

con-

sisting

of a

strong,

V-shaped

spring

which was

compressed by

i8



The Story

of

Small Arms

rotating a key

or

spanner.

When

fully wound

the wheel was

held

by a sear or

locking

bar; pressure

on the trigger

withdrew the

locking

bar

and allowed

the

spring, via

a short linked

chain, to

rotate

the

wheel

very

rapidly.

The

grooved

edge

of

the

wheel

struck

sparks

from

the

pyrites and ignited

the priming

and

hence

the main charge

of

powder.

The pyrites

was held between the

jaws

of

an

angled arm known

as

the

doghead.

The early

wheellocks

were fitted

with

various safety

devices

Detail

of a wheellock from

an

early

seventeenth-century

pistol

with

gilt wheel

cover

engraved

with

simple

floral

pattern. The

pan-cover

stud

and

securing pivot

for

the

doghead

are

also gilt.

19



The

Story

of

Small Arms

and

gadgets, and

a

good

working

generalisation

is

that the

simpler the

lock

plate,

i.e. the fewer the

knobs and buttons, the

later

the

weapon.

The

procedure

for loading

was exactly the same as

that

of

the

matchlock except

for

the priming

process.

The

mechanism

was

spanned

or

wound up, and a

pinch

of

priming

powder

placed in

the pan, the bottom of

which was formed by the

roughened edge

of the

wheel.

A

sliding

cover

was

then pushed

over

the pan,

keeping

the

powder in place.

The

doghead,

or arm

holding

the

pyrites, was

pivoted

and could

be

left

well clear of

the pan,

rendering accidental

discharge

impossible. When

action was

imminent

the

arm

was pulled back so

that

the pyrites

rested

on

top

of the pan

cover;

the

pan cover itself

was

automatically

removed

when the tri^^er was

pressed. This

new

system

offered

great

advantages, for the

weapon could

now

be

loaded

and

primed and left

ready

for action

without the

fear

of

accidents.

Another great asset

was its adaptability, for

it

could

be

made

in

any

reasonable

size

and for the first

time

a

small,

personal,

easily

portable

pistol

was

possible.

Horsemen

could

now

carry

firearms,

and this

development

was to

have

important

effects

on

the

whole science of

warfare.

The

wheellock

was fitted

to

all types of

weapons

and

many

matchlocks

were

altered

to take

this

wonderful

new

svstem.

The

expense

precluded entire

armies being

equipped

with

wheellocks, but

many

select groups such

as

bodyguards

and

special

cavalry

troops were

armed with them.

The

nobilitv

ordered

fine hunting

weapons

fitted

with this

new lock

as well

as pistols

for

their own

use.

Great

skill

was

lavished

on

the

weapons, and

many

are

works of

art

in their

own right.

Stocks

and barrels were

enaraved, inkiid,

chiselled

-

decorated

in

every

conceivable

style

and

material,

and

it is possible

that this

decoration

may have been

responsible

for

the

continued

use

of

the wheellock

for

hunting

weapons

long after the

system

was

obsolete.

20



The

Stoij

of

Small

Arms

The

majority of

these

wheellock hunting

weapons

have

a

curious

barrel-heavy

appearance;

this

is

because a very

heavy

barrel

was

fitted to

reduce

the

recoil, and the butt

was

much

shorter

than

the

more

usual

shoulder

stock

since

the

weapon

was

fired, not

from

the

shoulder, but

with the butt

resting

aaainst the

cheek.

Despite

its

tremendous

advantages

the system

was

not

without

its

faults.

Its

very

complexity

was

a

great

weakness,

for mech-

anical

failure

was

not

uncommon,

and only

a fairly skilled

man

could hope

to

repair any such

faults. Its

complexity

also

made it

expensive to

produce

and thus it

was

not readily

available

to

the

majority

of

people.

Some

writers

of the

period also claimed

that

it

was liable

to

jamming.

However,

once

the

idea of

mechanically

produced sparks

had

proved

practical it was

not long

before

a simpler,

more

reliable

method

was

discovered.

This was the

snaphaunce, or

snaphance,

lock

which

appeared in

the

mid-sixteenth

century. The

pyrites

of the

wheellock

was

replaced

by the

commoner flint,

and in

place

of

the

wheel

and

chain

a

simpler

mechanical system

was

used.

The

piece of

flint

was

held

firmly

between

two jaws at

the

top

of a

curved

arm

or

cock;

the pan was

covered, as in

the

wheellock, by a

sliding

cover, and

just

above

the

pan

cover was

a steel

plate at the

end of

a

metal

arm.

Loading

and

priming

were

essentially

the

same as for

the wheellock.

After

their

execution

the steel

was lowered

into

position

above

the closed

pan

cover;

the

cock

was

pulled back,

compressing

the

spring,

and

held

in this position.

On

pressing the

trigger

the

cock

was

released

and

flew

forward allowing the

flint to

strike

the steel

which

was

then

pushed

back out of

the

way

;

the

sparks

thus

fell

into the

pan

which had been

uncovered

by the

automatic

removal

of

the pan

cover ; the

priming

flashed

and, via

the

touch-

hole,

fired

the main

charge.

The

snaphaunce

was used

for

only

a

comparatively

short period

in Europe and these

weapons

are

very rare indeed, but, like the

matchlock,

the system

was

21



The Story

of

Small

Arms

retained elsewhere long

after it had

been

discarded

in

Europe.

For some

reason, and again

it is

difficult

to

ascribe

it entirely

to

conservatism, the

peoples

of North

Africa

especially

liked

their

weapons

to be of the

snaphaunce

construction.

Trade

guns

intended

for

this area

were

manufactured

in

Europe

right

up

until

the

last

century,

and

it

is

still

possible

to

find

the

snap-

haunce

being

used

in

remote

regions.

The

lock

is

almost

identical

with

that

used in

Europe

during

the

seventeenth

centurv.

The

shape of

the stock

and decorative

details

will ensure

that

these

North African

specimens

are

easily

identified

;

the

quality

of

workmanship, moreover,

is usually

rather

poor.

The

snaphaunce

was

simply

a

stepping stone

to

the

next

system,

the

flintlock. The

essential

difference

between

the

two

systems

is

that the

flintlock has

the pancover

and

steel

united

into one

L-shaped piece

known by

a

variety

of names

such

as

steel,

hammer

or

frizzen.

This

combination

of

the

two

pieces

considerably

simplified the internal

mechanism,

and

the

flintlock

was

to

remain

in use

for

some

25^0

years,

reaching

an extremely

high standard of

efficiency

and reliability.

The

true flintlock

probably

originated

in France

early

in the

seventeenth

century

and, of

course, it

was

to

undergo

many

changes

and

alterations before

it

reached

its final

form.

Although

it was in

use

for

such a

long

period

it

is

still

possible

to date

a

flintlock

weapon

with

reasonable

ease,

for

there were

fashions

in

guns

as

there

were

fashions

in

clothes.

The

earlier

locks

are

usually rather

banana-shaped

with

a

slightly

concave

surface,

whilst

later locks tend

to

be flat and

straighter.

Some

care

is

necessary

here,

for

many of the

seventeenth-century

locks also

had

flat

lockplates. Triggers

also

changed,

and earlier

ones

usually

have a

back

curling section

at the

tip

while

later

ones tend

to

be

much straighter and simpler.

The butt

is

a useful

guide

in

dating, for many

of

the

earlier

seventeenth-century

pistols

tend

to terminate

with

a

flat,

cut-off

appearance

;

late

seventeenth-

century

and

early

eighteenth-century

pistols

are

usually

found

22



The

lock

of

a

late

seventeenth-century

Italian

snaphaunce

pistol.

The lock

plate is engraved

with

a

simple

pattern,

and

the

steel

is

in

the

primed

position.

with

a

large

swelling, or pommel, which

tends

to

decrease in

size

as the century

progresses,

until

it

disappears altogether

at

the

end

of

the

eighteenth

century.

Late

eighteenth-century

and

early nineteenth-century

butts

tend to be rather like hockey

sticks

in

shape.

Again, most of the

pommels

were fitted with a

metal covering known as

a

butt cap. These butt caps were

sometimes

plain but

after

the

early years

of the

eighteenth

century they were decorated

with grotesque

heads. In the

early

eighteenth-century

flintlocks the

spurs

of

the

butt

cap

extended

well up

the

butt,

and

as

the century progressed these tended

to

shorten

and

finally

disappear

except

for

a

slight

curve

on

the

side

23



The

Stoiy

of

Small

Arms

double-barrelled,

fitted with a

lock on each barrel and

operated

by

separate

triggers. A

tremendous

amount

of

effort

went

into

the

manufacture

of

highest-quality

gun barrels,

and a

consider-

able

mystique

developed.

Long

and

earnest

discussions

were

held

by

sportsmen

on

the

best type of barrel,

shot

and

powder,

and

many

gunmakers became

renowned for their

high quality

work

in this

field.

Detached flintlock of

a

large

wall

piece.

The

lock bears

the

date,

1793,

and

the

mark

of

the

East

India

Company. The name of

a

famous London maker,

H.

Nock,

also

appears.

Length

of

the lock

plate

is

9I

in.



The

Story

of

Small Arms

In

the

seventeenth century and early eighteenth century the

majority

of

pistols

were

large

and were

intended

primarily

for

horsemen,

but the

growth

of coach

travel

and the increase

of

crime

in

town

created

a

demand

for smaller,

more personal

pistols. These

so-called travelling

pistols

were intended

to

fit

into

the

pockets of great coats

or into

travelling

bags.

For

self

protection the pocket and

muff pistols

were produced. These

ranged from some four to

six

inches

in length. Many were

double-barrelled,

and others,

after

the

end

of

the

eighteenth

century,

were

fitted

with a

bayonet which

was folded

back along

the barrels ;

when

required

it

could be released

to

fly forward and

lock

into

position.

Much

more

popular

for home

defence was

the

blunderbuss.

This short

weapon

had a barrel

with a

bore

which increased in

diameter towards

the muzzle.

Experiments

recently

carried

out

suggest that

this

belling has

little or no effect on the spread of

the

shot,

but

nevertheless,

the

deterrent

effect

of

gazing

into

a

weapon

with

a two-inch bore must

have been

considerable.

The

wide

mouth

probably

produced

a

louder

than

normal

explosion,

thus

increasing the

overall

effect of

the weapon. The

blunderbuss

was

popular

in

the

seventeenth century and

continued

so

until

the

mid-nineteenth

century when

the revolver

tended

to

displace

it

as the chief

personal weapon. Contrary

to

popular

belief they

did not fire rusty

nails, broken

glass or

rubbish, the

normal

load

being

a

number

of

small lead

balls.

Just

as

some

makers

acquired a

reputation

for

sporting guns,

others

acquired

similar

reputations for

duolHng weapons.

Wogden

was

probably

the

best

known in

the late eighteenth

century.

In

true duelling

pistols the barrels

are

usually heavy,

frequently

octagonal,

and the butt

is

very

gently curved

to

fit

the hand when in

the

aiming

position. Some are equipped

with

extension to

the

tri^^cr

jruard

and

this so-called spur

ensured

a

firmer grip.

Since the

normal

pressure required

to

squeeze the

trigger

was

quite

substantial

there

was

a

danger

of

going

oft

26



The

Stoij

of

Small Arms

target

whilst

squeezing. The

hair,

or set, trigger was

a

series

of

levers

which

could

be

adjusted

so

that

only

the merest

touch

was

required

to

fire the weapon.

Sometimes a

single trigger

serves

as

the

normal

and

the

hair

trigger,

but

in

other

weapons

a

second

trigger is fitted.

Many

of

the

so-called

duelling pistols

around today are,

however,

ordinary

target

pistols.

Many of the

famous makers

such as Nock,

Manton

and

Egg

improved the

design and

construction

of the

flintlock,

and

by

the i82o's

it was probably

at its

most

efficient. However,

there

were

certain

inherent difficulties which

could

not

be

overcome

by

any

improvement

;

the

flint

itself

was

only

reliable

for

a

certain

number

of

shots

—

thirty

was usually reckoned as a safe

maximum

—

and the

chances

of

a

misfire

were

high. Even

more

serious was

the

'hangfire'

;

this was

the small, but nevertheless

appreciable,

time

lag between

the

pressing

of

the

trigger and

the

explosion,

and the delay

was obviously

a

great

disadvantage when aiming

at

a

moving target.

The

Reverend

Alexander Forsyth,

a clergyman caring

for

the

parish of

Belhelvie in Aberdeenshire,

was

the first

to

hit upon

a

practical

solution

to

these problems.

He

had

a

fair

working

knowledge of

chemistry

and knew that certain chemicals

or

fulminates would

explode on

impact. Since the

explosion

produced a flame he reasoned

that this flash

could

be used

to

ignite

the

charge

in

firearms. By

i8o^ he

had

made

a lock

which

produced

a

spark

by

the exploding

of

a

chemical.

This so-called

percussion

lock

was

not

the

complete

answer,

but

at least

the

idea was shown

to

be

sound and feasible.

Forsyth

came to

London

and worked on

his

idea,

part of the

time

in the Tower

of

London.

He

used loose

fulminating

powder, and

other

designers

attempted

to

overcome the obvious

hazards

of this system by

packing

the

powder

in pills and

tubes. The

system that proved

most

satisfactory,

however,

was

that using

a

little

copper cap;

the

cap,

shaped

rather

like a

top

hat, had a small

quantity

of

fulminate

deposited on

the

inside

and the cap

fitted snugly over

27



The Story

of

Small

Arms

a

pillar drilled

with

a

tiny

hole

which

communicated

with

the

main

charge.

The

credit for

the

invention of

this

simple, but

highly

effective,

device was

claimed

by

many,

but it

is

now

generally

thought

that

Joshua

Shaw, an Enghshman

living

in

America, has the

greatest

claim.

By the 1820's

the percussion

system was

becoming the

most commonly

used

among sportsmen,

but, in

general, the

military

remained sceptical, and the

armies

continued to use

their flintlocks

for

another

ten

or

fifteen

years.

The

percussion

cap

was much less

prone

to

misfire, its

hang-

fire was

considerably

reduced, and it

was

also

quicker

and

simpler to

use than

the flintlock. Many

owners

of

fine

pistols

or

guns

sought

to

prolong

the life of their

flintlock

by

converting

it

to

the new

system.

Several

types of

conversion

were

used, but

probably

the

most

common

was

the pillar

system

whereby

a peg

or

nipple was set

into

a

small tube

which fitted

over

the touch-

hole.

Steel,

pan

cover

and

frizzen

spring were

removed

and the

cock

replaced by

a

hammer.

Converted

weapons are

fairly common but,

in general,

they

are

not

popular

with

collectors

and

usually

fetch

a

lower

price

than

a similar

piece

with

its

original

flintlock.

The

introduction of

the

copper cap

opened the

way

to a

flood

of

new ideas, but

the most

important

was

that

of

repeating

weapons.

Revolvers

had been

made

using

the

matchlock,

snap-

haunce

and flintlock

but

almost

without exception

they

were

difficult to

construct,

inefficient,

unpopular

and

in many

cases

positively dangerous.

Samuel

Colt

had manufactured

a

very

efficient

and

practical

revolver in the

1830's

but,

despite

its

many

advantages,

it

did

not achieve any

really

widespread popidaritv

until

the

1850's,

when

it

ousted the

old-fashioned pepperbox.

The pepperbox was

essentially

a

series

of

tubes

drilled

into a

solid cylinder

block.

Each

barrel

was

loaded

and

capped; tiie

cylinder

was

rotated

mechanically or by

hand

as

each

was

fired.

The

length

of

the

cylinder

was

subsequently reduced,

and

tiie

28



The

Story

of

Small

Arms

system

whereby pressure on the

trigger rotated

the cyHnder,

lifted the hammer and

eventually

fired the weapon.

Some

experts

claimed

that

Colt's

single action

made for careful

aiming

and

reduced

random shooting, whilst

Adam's

supporters claimed

that

the double

action

meant quicker

shooting

and in military

use

this

was most

important. Each side produced expert

'wit-

nesses',

but

of

course

the

matter was

never settled and

was

in

reality

purely

a

matter

of choice.

Colt

had

a very effective

sales

service

and was

an

expert in

what is now

called

public relations.

Colt revolvers were

promi-

nently displayed

at

the

Great

Exhibition

of

185^1

held

in London.

Numerous

engraved

presentation

weapons

were

distributed

to

all that Colt

felt

would be impressed. Eventually he

set

up

a

factory

in London

to

manufacture

his

revolvers.

His

English

competitors made great efforts

to

reduce

his lead

in the

field,

and

although

he became one

of the greatest

manufacturers

of

firearms, exporting

all

over

the world, he closed his

London

factory

in

18^6.

Colt revolvers

never achieved

in Britain

that

tremendous

popularity

which

was

theirs

in

America

and

many

other countries. Attached to these weapons there is a

certain

glamour which has growTi up

over

the

years,

and the

present-day

prices

fetched

by

Colt

revolvers

reflect this

popularity.

By the middle

of the

nineteenth century

Birminaham and

London

were

the

great

centres of the

arms

industry, and apart

from some provincial

craftsmen

who

managed

to

stay

in

business

the

majority

of

firearms

of

this

period will have

been

made in

one of

these two cities.

When

the

British

army

finally

accepted the

obvious superiority

of

the

percussion

system, tests

were carried out

to

find the most

suitable

adaptation for general

issue. The

old

Brown

Bess was

converted

to

percussion and soon the entire British

army

^vas

equipped with the

new

arm.

When

the Volunteers

were

once again

formed

in the 18^0's

there

was

a

great

revival

of

interest

in

the

subject

of

firearms,

30



2

TECHNIQUES

OF

THE

GUNSMITH

It would

seem

most

likely that the

first aunmakers

were

bv

trade

armourers

who

took

on

the

job

as

just

another

weapon

to

be

produced.

They

probably looked upon

the

castina

of

the rather

crude

handguns

as

an extremely

simple task in

comparison

with

the skill

required

to

shape

a helmet

or breastplate bv hammering

the

metal

over

a

wooden

stake.

However,

the

increasing demand

for

auns

would

soon

have

created

groups

of specialised

tradesmen, although

these

gun-

smiths tended,

quite

naturallv, to

be

based

in

towns

that

had

previously

been noted

for armour and sword

production.

Little

is

known of

the

great

majority

of these earlv

gunmakers,

apart

from

a select

few who

achieved

fame

during their lifetime

through

the patronage

of some

:Treat

ruler.

The

^^heelIock

mechanism

made

great

demands on the

mechanical

skill

of

the gunsmith who had

to

fashion

each

part

by hand,

temper

his

own

springs,

for^e

his

barrels

and

probably

make the

stocks

as well.

For the nobility's

guns

he called upon

the

services

of

engravers, goldsmiths, silversmiths

and

artists to

draw

up

his

designs.

He, like the armourer, probably had

tlie

use

of some

water-powered

machinery,

but the

great

majority

of

his

work

was

done

by

hand.

In

Britain details

of the

early

^unmakinsr industry

-

prior

to

the

seventeenth

century

-

are

\erv

scarce. In

London, however,

the

craftsmen had

become

sufficiently

organised

to

form

a

32



Techniques

of

the Gunsmith

corporation

and

seek a

Royal Charter,

granted

in

1638.

The

new

Gunmakers' Company had certain

rules

and regula-

tions

for

the proper

control

of the

trade,

and

entry

to the craft

was

elective. Efforts

were

made

to

ensure

that

the

regulations

were

observed

and

Companv

courts inflicted Hnes upon offen-

ders.

Although for the

most

part only

one

gunmaker's name appears

on any one

weapon, documentary

evidence

of

the

period does

Pyrites

Do^head

LockpKit

Safety

Catch

Ramrod

Butt

A typical wheellock pistol

of about

1580,

showing

the

main

features and nomenclature. The large

ball

butt

was

a

common feature

of pistols of this period.

The stock usually

has

some

form

of

inlay.

suggest that many

finished

weapons

were

often the result

of

several makers' labours.

London

was,

at this time, the main centre of

supply

with

many

of

the makers located

in

the

area

of the

Minories,

near the

Tower

of

London. Birmingham

had also

developed

an arms

industry,

but

was

greatly

overshadowed by the capital. Many of

the leading

makers

during the

eighteenth

and nineteenth

cen-

turies were

to

be

found in the more

fashionable

parts of

London

S.A.

33



Techniques

of

the

Gunsmith

around

Piccadilly

and

St.

James's.

A few were located

south

of

the

river,

but the great

majority

were

to

be found on the north

side. Collectors

very

soon

become

familiar with

names

like

Nock,

Manton,

Egg, Blisset and Harding, all of whom

had

their

shops

in London.

Birmingham began

to

overtake London during the eighteenth

century, but

it

was during the nineteenth that the city became

pre-eminent

in

arms production.

All

this

is not

to

say

that

weapons

were

produced

only

in

London

and Birmingham

;

large

numbers

of

provincial

makers

flourished during the eighteenth

and

early

nineteenth centuries,

but

better

communications

and

travel

reduced

demands

for

local

products

when

famous

London

or

Birmingham weapons

were

easily

obtainable.

Each country

had

certain makers

whose

work

was

recognised

as being first-class and, naturally, the

majority of

these makers

were to

be

found

in the

various capitals.

Towns

like Liege

in

Belgium and Suhl in Germany, became

famous

for supplying

arms

in quantity, and orders

for

British

weapons

were placed

at

Liege

during

the

eighteenth

and

nineteenth

centuries.

Spain

became

famous for

the quality

of

its

gun

barrels and those by

well-known

makers

commanded

a

high

price

in

Britain.

Naturally

most

makers

had

their own

speciality

or method of

production,

but the majority of

weapons

were

manufactured by

the

same

processes.

A

finished weapon of

reasonable

quality,

before

it

was ready

for

use, passed

through the hands of some

fifteen

or sixteen craftsmen,

to

wit:

Barrel

forger

Lock and

furniture forger

Barrel borer

and

fitter

Lock fitter

Furniture

fitter

Ribber

and

breecher

Stocker

Screwer

Detonator

Maker-oflF

Stripper and finisher

Lock

finisher

Polisher

and

hardener

Engraver

Browner

Stock

polisher

34



Techniques

of

the

Gunsmith

In

the case of

military weapons

or

cheap

guns the

processes

were

simphfied

and less

care

was

taken

in

finishing

each

part,

but

a

first-class sporting gun was fussed

over

like a

new-born

babe.

Tremendous

effort

went

into

the

production

of

barrels

which were

straight,

strong

and

true.

The

methods

of

con-

structing the barrel

were

many

and most

had their

supporters.

Differing

methods of

building

up the barrel

produced

a

different

pattern in the metal

and this pattern was often

emphasised

by

the

Top

Jaw

and

Screw

Barrel

Tan^

,

Cock

Lockplate

Hint

Frizzen

Pan

Butt

Cap

Trigger Guard Ramrod Pipe

This flintlock

pistol

of the late eighteenth century

exhibits

many

of

the

features common

to

weapons

of

the

period. The

crown

and

G

R

on the lockplate

indicate that this is

a

government-issue

weapon.

action

of acid.

Damascus

barrels, so called

because

a

similar

patterning was found

on

sword blades from the

East, were

considered

the best.

The

basic material

was,

of

course, iron

and

steel,

and

during

the eighteenth century and much of

the

early

nineteenth

cen-

tury, it

was claimed

that the

best-quality iron to

be found

was

in

the form

of

old

horseshoe nails or

stubs.

During this

period

large quantities

of

these stubs were

imported

from

France,

3^

02



Techniques

oj

the

Gunsmith

Holland

and

Sweden.

First

they

were

polished

by rotating them

in a

cast-iron

drum

and

then

they

were

sorted,

any poor

quality

ones

being

rejected. A

certain

proportion of cut

lengths

of

steel

springs

was

mixed in

and

batches

of

forty

pounds

of this

mixture

were

heated

in

a

furnace to

produce a

resultant block,

known

as

the

bloom.

A

three-ton

hammer and

then

a

one-and-a-half-ton

hammer

worked

the

bloom

into

a

block

which was

then

passed

through

a

series

of

rollers

until it

produced a

riband

several

yards

long,

half

an inch

wide

and

of

slightly

varying

thicknesses.

The riband

was then

cut

into

separate lengths

each

sufficient to

produce

about

one

third

of

the

barrel.

The

long flat

strip

was now

wrapped

around a bar

to form

a spiral.

As

two

spirals

were

ready they

were

heated

to

welding

heat

and

placed

end to

end

over an iron

bar

which was

banged

continuously

on

the

ground

until

the

two

pieces

were

successfully

welded one to

the other.

This was

repeated

for

the

third

piece

and the

whole

process

completed by

hammering.

To

produce

a

different

patterning

another system

was

used

whereby

the

original

block

of

metal,

the

skelp,

was

built

up

in

the form

of

twenty-five

layers,

each

approximately two

feet by

two

inches by

a

quarter

of

an

inch

of,

alternately,

iron

and mild

steel.

The

whole was

worked

into

a bar

some

five

to

six

feet

long

and

three-eighths

of

an

inch square,

and

this bar

was

then

gripped firmly

at one

end and

twisted

round and

round,

shorten-

ing

it

to half its

original

length

; it

was then

used

to

produce

the

barrel

in

the

same

manner as

described

above.

The

patterning

was

not

the

sole

object

of

these various processes,

for

the

work-

ing

and twisting

tended

to

pnxkico barrels

of

greater

strength

and

reliability.

For musket

barrels

the skelp

was

rolled

out

to

some

three

feet

lon^T

by

four

inches wide,

thickening

slightly

to\Nards

one

end;

it

was

then

folded,

forming

a

cylinder,

and the

overlapping

edges

were

welded together

by

hantl

or by

passing

it

through

rollers.

36



Techniques

of

the

Gunsmith

Pistol

barrels

were

produced

in similar fashion

and

then

filed to

render

them either octagonal,

or else octagonal changing

to

round.

After the barrel had

been

formed

it had to

be

bored

out, and

to do this a

square

bit

was

rotated

at hi^h speed whilst the barrel

was pushed

against the

end.

Durina

the

boring

the whole barrel

Safety

C\ittli

Link

Fore

End

Swivel

Riimrod

A

percussion pistol of

about 1820

with

many typical

features

including link

ramrod

and

common,

'hockey

stick'

stock

and

butt.

The

safety

catch

engages with

a

slot

at the rear

of

the hammer and

locks it.

was water-cooled

to

prevent

the

frictional

heat

produced

from

spoiling

the

temper

of

the

metal. Next the

exterior of

the barrel

was

ground

on

stone

wheels

so lar^e that

the

workmen

leaned

forward,

resting

on

a plank,

above

the

wheel.

No

check

was

made

to

ensure that

the

barrel

wall was

of

an

even

thickness

along

its whole

length.

Birmingham

sent

a lar^e

number

of

these

roughly finished

barrels

to

London

for

final

processing

by

the

London makers.

Their

first

step was

to

'set

straight' by

removing

any

irregu-

larities,

assessed

entirely

by eye,

by

a few shrewd taps with

a

37



Techniques

of

the

Gunsmith

hammer.

Next the

barrel was

true-bored

by fixing

it firmly

to

a

carriage which moved it

forward

against a bit

set in a

lar^e

hand-rotated flywheel.

The

inside

diameter was

adjusted

by the

insertion

of

a semi-circular wedge of

wood

on

one

side

of

the

square bit, thus

forcing

the bit

to

cut

on

two

edges onlv. Slips

of

paper

were

inserted between

the

wedge,

or

squill,

and the

bit

to

give

a

fine adjustment.

Both

ends

of the

barrel were

now

blocked

and it was

fitted

into a lathe to

be

given

a final

accurate smoothing

on the outside.

One end

was tapped and a breech-plug block screwed

firmly

into

place.

The

potential

danger

of

a

weak

spot

in a

barrel

was

obvious

and it

was

set

down in law

that

each barrel was

to

be proved

or

tested.

The

barrel

was

greatly

overcharged

with powder,

the

scale of

which was

set out in

detail, and the charge

fired. If no

fault

developed the barrel received an official stamp. Pin

holes

were

discovered

by

forcing water into

the barrel

under

pressure.

The

proved barrel now went

to

the stocker who had

cut a

stock

from

a

piece of

walnut

—

which,

ideally,

had

been

seasoned

for some

two

to

three years

—

and he now set the barrel and

lock

into

this

stock.

This

job was

considered

an

extremely important

one, and

a

craftsman in

the mid-nineteenth

century

could

earn

from

four

to

six

pounds

a week

—

a

considerable wage

for the

period.

All

the metal furniture and screws were now let into the

stock

by

the

screwer

who, in

turn,

passed

the

weapon

to the detonator

who

fitted the cock and other

parts

of the

breech.

Next, the grip

was

chequered by cutting

fine

lines into the stock and,

eventually,

the stripper

and finisher

took

the whole

thinjr

to

pieces

and went

over

it,

correcting

any minor

faults.

Barrels

and

lock

parts

were

engraved and

the latter

hardened

by

heating

them

in an iron container

filled

with

animal charcoal

made from

bone

or

ivory dust, and old shoos. The

whole

con-

tainer

was

raised

to

red

heat

for

an

hour

or

so

and

the

contents

38



Techniques

of

the

Gunsmith

then

tipped

straight

into

cold water.

A

thin

coat

of

steel

was

thus

formed

over the

whole

surface and

the effect of the

charcoal

was to

produce a beautiful

blue

colour which is

hard

to

duplicate.

The

whole

effect

was

to

resist

rust

as

well

as

to

toughen

the

item.

Barrels

were browned

-

again

as a precaution against

rust.

If

a

rifle

was

bein^

produced

the borin^-out

process was

much

more

complicated, for

shallow,

accurately positioned grooves

had

to

be cut on the

inside

of the barrel.

The

process was

laborious

and

was

performed by

a narrow,

toothed,

cutting

tool;

this fitted into

a

metal bit

which twisted

as it

was pushed

into

the barrel, the

amount

of

twist being carefully controlled.

The

height of the cutting

teeth

was

gradually increased until the

groove

had been

cut

to

the correct depth, the whole process

being repeated

for

each

groove. A

lead cast

of

about

eight

inches

of

the inside of the barrel

was taken

;

apart from checking

that

the rifling

was

correct this

lead billet was oiled and coated with

fine

emery

and pulled

backwards and forwards

through

the

barrel to

remove

sharp edges or

irregularities.

Methods

changed

but

little

over

the years and the details

given above,

based

on

processes

of about

1830,

differ but little

from

those

used

in

the Enfield

Factory in

1865 .

Barrel

production

was

speeded

up by the

introduction

of

specially shaped,

roller

presses and

rifling

was

done

by

machine rather than hand.

The

whole job

involved

more than

seven hundred

processes

with

sixty-three

different

parts, but

even

so, the

Enfield

Factory

was

producing

some

twelve

hundred

rifles

a

week

at

a

cost

of

sixty-

two

shillings each.

Although

the

basic

assembly methods altered

but

little,

this

does

not mean that the

industry was conservative

or stagnant.

A wide variety

of

improvements

were

adopted

and

developed

the

efficiency

of the lock was

improved

by

the

addition

of a

bridle

to

support

the

tumbler, and

small

rollers

were fitted to

those parts

where it

was

desirable to

reduce

friction

to a mini-

mum

;

when

it

was

realised that

metal was attacked

by

the

39



Techniques

of

the Gunsmith

chemical

effects

of explosives, pans

and

touch-holes

were fitted

with

thin

protective

layers

of

gold

or

platinum,

since both

metals

were

unaffected

by the

chemicals' corrosive properties;

numerous

safety

devices

were

introduced

so

that

accidents

were

reduced

to a minimum;

ramrods, always

liable to

loss, were

attached

to

the

stock by

means of an

ingenious

swivel link

which

allowed free use,

but

which ensured that the

attachment could

not

be

dropped. Many of these

improvements were

patented,

and details are readily

available

from

patent lists

of

the

period.

Much of the old pride of

workmanship

still

remains in

the

gunmaking

industry

today.

One

feels

that

the

eighteenth

centurv

8|unmaker

would

feel

very much at

home

in the

work-

shop

of some

of

the

high-quality,

sporting-gun

manufacturers,

where modernisation

has not

meant a loss of

personal

attention

to

detail or a

pride in craftsmanship.

A

plate from

the

section on

Arquebusier

from Dide-

rot's

Encyclopaedia

which

was written

between

1762

and

1772.

This particular

page shows

the interior

and

exterior

view

of a

flintlock

as

well

as

certain

details

of construction including

a so-called

'false

breech'

at

the

bottom.

41



3

ACCESSORIES

AND

EXTRAS

The

earliest

hand-gunner

needed only a

basic

minimum of

equipment.

Supplied

with

ball,

powder

and

a

burning

ember

he

was

ready for

action.

As more

complex systems

of ignition

were

developed

so the

number of

devices

required

to

operate the gun

increased,

and by the

early

seventeenth

century

the

musketeer

or

caliveer

had

become

festooned with an

array

of

extras.

As

well

as

his

heavy,

cumbersome musket

and rest

the

musketeer

held a

glowing

match in his

hand,

and

a

few

extra

lengths

were

stored in his

hat

or

dangled

from

his

belt.

Two

containers

held

his

coarse

powder

for

loading and his

fine powder

for priming,

and in

a

leather

pouch were

his

lead

bullets.

The

caliveer

was

more

fortunate in

that

he

did

not have

to

carry a

heavy rest

as

did

the

musketeer. Flint

and

steel

were

also

required

to

kindle

flame

to

ignite the

slow-burning

match.

In

addition

to all

these

extras he

carried a sword

or

dagger

and

wore

a

metal helmet.

t-

The

gunpowder

was

carried in

a

powder horn

or

flask and

these

were

of

four

main types.

The

musketeer had

his

large,

iron-bound,

triangular flask

made

of

wood, but more

popular

with

the hunter

were

those

of

horn;

they

were usuallv

made

from

a forked

section of antler

and were

often

embellished

with

carving

in high

relief.

The

'ring'

flasks,

inlaid with

mother of

pearl and

similar

decorative

materials are

much less

common

and

are generally

of

high

quality

both

in

construction

and

42



Accessories

and

Extras

decoration.

The most common

everyday

type

was

simply made

from

a

section

of cowhom which

had been

boiled

until it

was

pliable,

then pressed

nearly flat

and

finally

allowed

to

harden.

Decoration

on

these

is

often

a

simple,

almost

crude,

engraving

usually

depicting

a

rural

or hunting

scene.

Nearly all

these

containers

were

fitted with

some kind

of

nozzle which

was

designed

to

measure

out the

exact quantity

of

powder

required.

On

the command

Gage

your

Flask ,

the

seventeenth-century

soldier

placed

his finger

over the

open

end

of the nozzle and

inverted

the flask, at

the

same

time

pressing

a

spring-loaded

cut-off

to

allow

the

powder

to

run

from

the

main

body

of the flask

into the nozzle

;

the

cut-off

was

then

released

and when

the flask was

righted

the

nozzle

contained

the

correct charge

of powder.

The wheellock

needed a

spanner, and

some

flasks

were

made

with a spanner

set

into

one side.

Another

type reversed

the

process and

had a spanner

which was

designed

to

act

also as a

powder

measure. The

latter were

intended

for use

with

a

flask

that

had

no

automatic

measure.

In

the late

eighteenth

century and

early

nineteenth

master

gunners were

supplied

with

large horns

of

powder

for priming

the cannon.

These

were of

cow

horn

with

the

wide

end

closed

by a

wooden

disc

and

screw

peg; the

pointed

end was

fitted

with

a simple

spring-operated

brass

stopper.

Some

of these

horns

will

be

found with

the

letters

W.D.

(War

Department),

but

the

majority

are

quite

plain.

Similar,

smaller

horns

were

carried

at

the

gunner's

belt

in

the

late

seventeenth

century.

Later flasks

are

usually

of

brass

or copper,

tend

to

lack

the

decoration

of

the

earlier

flasks

and

are

mostly

pear-shaped.

A

few, however,

are

embossed with

a

variety

of

patterns,

hunting

scenes and

trophies.

The brass

nozzles

are

frequently

fitted

with

a

simply

graduated

dram-measure,

which

can

be

adjusted

to

give

three

or

four

different

quantities

of

powder.

In England

the

majority

of this

type of flask was

produced

by

the two firms

of

43



Accessories

and

Extras

Hawkslev

and

Dixon who

exported very

large

quantities

all over

the

world.

Modern copies

of

this

type of

flask are

heina

manufactured

now

and,

although they

are

supplied

by

the

manufacturer

as

being

copies, some

are

already finding their way

on to

the

antique market.

Flasks

of

very

similar

shape but made

of

leather

are commonly

encountered.

Although at

first

glance

they appear

identical it

will

soon

be

seen

that the

nozzle in

particular

is

quite

different.

The flasks contained the

small

lead pellets or shot,

and

the

nozzle

is

graduated in

ounces rather than drams.

Some

leather

containers

were

made

in

the form of a belt carried

across

the

shoulder

and these

are

also

intended

for shot.

Many of the seventeenth-century musketeers were equipped

with a

bandolier or

broad

shoulder belt

from

which

dan8;led a

dozen

or

so

wooden

or

horn

containers.

Each

container held just

the

precise

charge

required for

one shot

so

eliminating the

measuring

needed

with

an ordinary flask. Despite its obvious

advantages

the

bandolier

was

not

without

its hazards,

and

not

least was the danger of the

containers

taking

fire. The

rattling

of the containers, one against the other,

was

a serious handicap

when

attempting

a

secret

move,

and

for this reason many

military

writers of the period recommended the

use of

cartridges.

By the middle of the seventeenth

century

cartridges had

reached

fairly general

use.

Essentially

they

consisted

of

a sheet

of

stout

paper

rolled

round

to

form

a

tube

which

contained

a

measured

charge

of

powder

and

a

lead bullet.

To

load,

the

gunner bit

or

tore

open

the tube,

poured the powder

down

the

barrel

and then rammed

home

the

paper

and bullet with

his

ramrod

or scouring stick. These

paper cartridges

were

often

carried

in specially partitioned

boxes

of

wood

or

leather.

Simple

powder

horn, from the flattened section

of

a

cow

horn, engraved

with

hunting scene. Belt

hook and

carrying

rings are both fitted.

The

nozzle,

lacking

a spring, measures

2

ins., horn

section

9-5

in.

It is probably

German early

seventeenth

century.



Accessories

and Extras

Cartridges

were easily

made, but

production

of

lead

bullets

was

less

simple

for they

had

to

be cast

in a bullet

mould.

In

the

case of an arsenal

or military bodies

the

moulds

were

often

designed

to

cast several bullets

at

one

filling.

The

majority

of

ordinary

moulds cast

only

one

projectile,

but

the advent

of

the

revolver introduced

the double

mould which

was drilled

for a

conical bullet

or a ball.

The

lead

was

heated

in a crucible

until it was

just the right

temperature

to

ensure

a

smooth

flow and

even

cooling.

A

small

amount

was

taken

in

a

ladle and

poured into

the hole at the

top

of the closed

mould. After

a

short

interval

the mould

was

opened

and

the

ball

removed.

The

small

tail,

or

sprue,

was

cut off

by

means

of

a

simple

cutter

built

into

the mould.

In

the

mid-nineteenth

century a David Napier

invented

a

machine for

pressure-moulding

bullets,

and

subsequently military-issue

moulds became

much

less

common.

The

powder in

use

was

extremely variable

in

content

and

performance,

and

for

accurate

and consistent

shooting

it

was

important

to

have

some

idea

of

the

quality

of

the

powder.

The

only

means

available was

to explode a

given

amount

and assess its

strength.

To

do this

some

form

of

eprouvette,

or

powder

tester,

was

used, the majority

of these little devices

consisting of

a

wheel

which operated

against the pressure

of a

spring.

A measured

amount

of

powder

was

exploded,

and

the

amount

of rotation

produced

measured, thus giving

a rough idea of

the force. Other

eprouvettes

raised weights

or

moved

plungers but

in

essence the

basic

idea

was

always the same. As

a

result

of

the

various tests

one

researcher

in

1742

stated

that

the

official-issue British

powder compared

favourably with any

made abroad.

He

dis-

missed with contempt

the trade, or Guinea,

powder

as

being

the

worst

of all.

The

majority of weapons

from

the sixteenth

to

the

nineteenth

centuries

were muzzle-loading,

but

there

were many

designed

to

be

breech-loading.

The

most

common

of

these

breech-loaders

46



Accessories and

Extras

A

plate from

the

Book

of

Field

Sports (i860)

by

H.

Miles

showing

the

items

recommended

for the

hunter.

Top

left

(3)

is a shot belt intended

to

hold

2

lb.

of

shot.

Top Right

(5)

is

a patent

cartridge carrier

which

held

20-35

cartridges

in

a

number of

spring

clips

attached

to

a

revolving

band. The case

(17)

is

described

as being for a

Westley

Richards 'double'.

Centre bottom

(9-15)

shows a

complicated sportsman's

knife designed

by a

foremost

shooter

of

the

period,

Lieutenant Hans Busk.

47



Accessories

and Extras

were small pocket

pistols.

In these

weapons

the short

barrel

was

unscrewed

and powder

and ball

were

placed

in

the

breech

and the barrel

screwed back on.

To ensure a

tight fit

a

barrel

key

was

provided

and

this fitted

over

the barrel and

engaged

with

a small lug,

thus

ensuring

a

good

leverage.

Another

t\pe

of

key

fitted

into

the

muzzle

and

engaged

with

a

series

of notches

cut

into

the end

of

the

barrel.

At

first

glance these

notches

give

the

impression

of

rifling,

but

it

will

soon

be

seen that

the notch

extends only

a very short

way

down

the inside

of

the barrel.

With

muzzle-loading

weapons

the

ramrod was

most important

since a

charge

which was

not

properly

rammed

home

could

easily

cause

a

burst

barrel.

The

ramrods

of

many

weapons

are

often fitted

with a detachable end

which

may be

removed

to

disclose a corkscrew-like attachment;

known

as a worm,

it was

used

to

withdraw

a charge should the

weapon misfire

; the ram-

rod

was

pushed

into the barrel

and

the worm rotated

to

bite into

the

lead

bullet

which could then be

pulled

out. Other

ramrods

had one end

fitted with a

powder

measure which,

filled with

powder, was inserted vertically

into

the barrel

when the

pistol

was

held with the barrel

pointing

down.

The

pistol

and ramrod

were then

inverted

and the powder

deposited

directly

into

the

breech

without

the risk of any grains

adhering

to

the

inside

of

the

barrel.

In the

case

of

Balkan,

Turkish and

Near-East

weapons the

ram-

rod

is

not housed in

the

stock.

Many

stocks were

carved

to

simulate

a ramrod, when in fact

it

was

carried

separately

sus-

pended from

a

cord.

These

detached

ramrods, or

siima,

are often

found with tweezers,

powder

measures

or

even

daggers, designed

to

screw

into

the rod.

Many powder

flasks and

pistols

were fitted with a belt

hook.

This

was

simply

a

metal

bar

which

was affixed

to

the

back

of

the

flask

or

pistol

and

thrust

behind

the belt,

allowing

the

pistol

to

hang on

the outside.

This

device

continued in use until well

into

the

nineteenth

century

and

because

of

this

holsters

were

not

48



Accessories

and

Extras

commonly

used,

except

—

-for

obvious reasons—

by

horsemen.

Horsemen

carried

their

holsters

in

pairs,

one

on either

side

of

the

saddle. They

were of

thick

leather and the

top

opening

could be

covered

by

a heavy cap

which was

either

strapped

down

or

else held

in

place by friction. Since the great

majority

of

pistols were

single

shot and

circumstances

were

likely

to

necessitate several

shots,

the only

solution was

to

carry

a

large

number of pistols.

Many

of

the eighteenth-century engravings

of

pirates show

them

equipped

with

a

belt

across the chest

with

as

many as

twelve small holsters, each carrying a pistol.

With

the

advent

of

pepperboxes and

revolvers

the

holsters

became

more

commonplace;

at

first they

were

often mounted on

the

saddle,

as in the

case of

Colt's

early revolvers,

but

soon

smaller personal

holsters

attached

to

the

belt

were in general use.

Colt's

London

shop in

Pall Mall

made

a

point of

advertising his patent-leather

holster,

belt

and cartridge

box.

Contrary to

general

belief the

majority of

belt

holsters

were fitted with a

flap

or

strap

which

buttoned across the

top

of the holster

ensuring that the revolver

would

not

be shaken

out.

During the eighteenth century

the

usual

containers

in

which

pistols were sold were small

cloth

bags, often

mentioned

in

contemporary accounts. Towards the end of the century

and

especially during

the

nineteenth,

it

became

common

practice

to

sell the

weapons

in

wooden

boxes.

These cases, usually

of

oak or

mahogany,

are

of

two main

types,

differing in the

arrangement

of

the

interior.

The

great

majority

had

the

inside

divided

into

various

sections

to

hold the weapon and its accessories.

The

second,

and less

common,

type is padded, and

the

compart-

ments

are actually

moulded

to the shape of the

weapon,

powder

flask,

etc.

The

number

of

'extras' varied greatly

and,

in

many

cases,

included

additional cylinders

for revolvers, spare barrels

and

multi-purpose

tools.

Colt's

nipple

keys

were

designed

to

serve

as screwdrivers

as

well.

Sporting

guns

were

often

supplied

in

s.A.

49

D



e

\f<

Bottom

left

: Rare

nipple gauge,

probably part of

the

equipment of

a

gunmakcr's shop

—

made

by

W.

&

C.

Eley

of

London. Top

left

:

Capper,

marked

S.

Allport

improved,

made of

German

silver.

Middle

:

Brass

capper

marked

J.S.

Improved.

Ry/ir

.-

Fulminate

pill

dispenser

marked

C.

Moore

London.

As

the

toothed

wheel

was rotated a

small pill ofexplosive

fulminate

passed

through

the

nozzle at

the

bottom.

cases,

although these

were

frequently

of

leather

and fitted

w

ith

a

handle so that

they could serve

as

carrying cases.

In

general the

soldier

was

not

encouraged

to

tamper

with

the

mechanism

of

his firearm,

but of

course

the armourer

was

SO



Accessories and

Extras

supplied

with tools

for

this

purpose.

In

the nineteenth century

a

great

variety of

combination tools were

produced

and

usually

incorporated

simple

screwdrivers, worms, prickers for

cleaning

nipples,

and

spring

clamps

—

as

well

as

sections

carrying

spare

nipples.

The introduction

of

percussion caps greatly facilitated the

loading of firearms,

but

the

cap

was

so small that

fitting

it

on

the

nipple could be tedious,

especially

if the hands

were

gloved

or

cold. To ease this

important

operation

various

cappers, or

cap

dispensers,

were

designed.

The

commonest

type

was

a flat,

circular

container,

the

top

plate

of

which

unscrewed,

revealing

a

spiral channel,

and into this the caps

were placed; a spring-

loaded

arm

exerted

a

gentle pressure on the line of

caps, ensuring

that as one

cap

was fitted on

to

the

nipple another

moved into

position at the

opening.

It

was

of

great

importance that the tube

joining the

priming

to the

charge should

be

kept clear

and

free from

clogging.

In

the

case

of

the flintlock

this

was easy and

could

be

done

by

a needle.

The

connecting

tube

on

a

percussion

lock,

however,

was

very

much finer, and if it became

badly

clogged cleaning

was

difficult.

Exploding

a

cap

on

the nipple

was

one method,

but to

increase

the

effect nipple-primers

were

designed.

These

gadgets

inserted

a

few grains

of

powder right into the nipple

and

the tiny ex-

plosion

was

sufficient

to

clear

the stoppage.

For

the discriminating shooter

numerous

other

devices

were

produced

such

as

muzzle

protectors

which

were

designed

to

fit

over the end of a

rifle

barrel,

keeping

out the

dirt and,

at

the

same time, guarding the

foresight.

Nipple

guards,

heavily

padded

with

leather, were

made

to

fit

over

the

nipple ensuring

that

it was

kept

clean and

free from knocks

when

not

in

use.

It

could

also

be used

for

practice firing since the leather

cushioned

the hammer and so prevented any serious

damage.

Bayonets

were

often

supplied

as

an extra item

with

many

long

arms,

and were

not

exclusively

military.

The

earliest

plug

51

D2



Accessories

and

Extras

bayonets

were simply

pushed

into

the

end of the

barrel

once the

weapon had

been

fired.

Soon this

type

was replaced

by

the

socket

bayonet

which

fitted round

the barrel

and

could be left

in

place

whilst the

weapon was

fired.

In some

countries,

however

-

notably

Spain

-

plug

bayonets

were

manufactured

long

after

the

socket

type

had

become

common.

The

more

modern

type,

locking

over

the

muzzle

and on

to

a

stud,

came

into

general use

about

the

middle of

the

nineteenth

century,

but

again the

socket

type was

retained

by the

military

until

much

later. The

scabbards

of

the

bayonet

are

usually

of

leather with

steel

or brass

fittings.

Some

American

and

Continental

scabbards

are

entirely

of

metal.

Only the

more

common

accessories

have been

dealt with

here,

but

there

were

many

others

produced

and

it

is

always

worth turning

over

boxes

of odds

and

ends

in

the

hope

that

some

of

these

unusual

items

will

come to

light.

52



4

COLLECTORS

AND

COLLECTING

Most

collectors

would

aaree

that,

in

the

Hrst

Hush

ol

enthusiasm,

there

is

usually

a

distinct 'magpie'

approach. Anything and

everything is

sought

after

and

the

main

object

is

simply the

acquisition of

pieces.

Any

pistol, long

arm

or accessory within

financial

reach

is

acquired, and it is only

very

gradually

that

interest

becomes

channelled

and specialisation takes

over.

Inevitably some

purchases made during

this

early stage

will

be

regretted

later,

but

despite

this danger there

is

something

to

be

said

for

the magpie

period.

In

the first place every

weapon,

no matter

how

ordinary

and

commonplace,

adds

something

to the

collector's

experience

and

knowledge.

Secondly,

a

reserve of

weapons

is built up

which

can

be

'turned over', or

sold,

at

a later date.

As

better

and

more

expensive

specimens

are acquired

the

money

raised

by

the sale

of

surplus items

is

most useful

and welcome.

The

disposal

of

items

is

much

easier

than

the

acquisition

of

new

ones,

althouah the

channels are

much

the same

for

both

purposes. In the

search for

new

pieces for

the collection

per-

sistence is the most

important

attribute. Every

possible source,

and

a few

impossible ones, must

be tried, and, what is most

important, tried

regularly.

The popular antique

markets

are

not

littered

with

bargains,

and

dealers

have usually

swept

the

market

clear

early in the

morning

—

long before the first

hopeful

tourist

arrives; moreover,

a

piece

may

well

have

changed

hands

several

Si



Collectors

and

Collecting

It can

be

both advantageous

and

frustrating

to

buy

from

a

non-

specialist dealer.

Since the dealer

lacks any

profound

knowledge

it

is

possible that an

unusual

piece

can

be

purchased at

a reason-

able

figure.

On

the

other

hand

such

dealers

tend

to

price

commonplace

pieces at

a

higher

figure

than

the

collector

would

expect,

simply

because

a

similar

but possibly

more interesting,

piece

is reported

to

have reached

such a figure.

Auction

sales as a source

of supply have

a

number

of hazards

the first, and

often the

greatest,

is

the catalogue.

Catalogue

descriptions

can

be

most

misleading

and

on

occasions

wildly

inaccurate.

No reputable firm would

publish

a

false

description,

but since the

description

must

be

brief

it is possible

to give

an

unintentionally wrong

idea. The

biggest

danger

comes when

putting

in a

postal

bid,

for here

one

must judge

on description

alone.

If possible the lots should

be examined

at

the

viewing

when

they

are available

for close

study. After

a

few

comparisons

of

lots

and descriptions it

should

be possible

to assess

the

accuracy,

or

otherwise,

of

the catalogue

and

so

decide

how

much

reliance

may be placed

on

it in

future.

If attendance

at the

sale

is impossible a

postal

bid

can

be

made

or the

services

of a commission buyer utilised.

These

buyers

will

act on behalf of

the

collector,

examine

the

piece

and

bid

up

to

the

figure

decided

on. Their fee is a

percentage,

usually five

to ten

per

cent,

of the

purchase price.

Naturally

the

weapon

will

now

prove that

much

more

expensive,

but

the

piece

has

been examined

and, unless

specifically

so-instructed,

the dealer

will

not

bid

if he

feels

the piece is

at

all

doubtful.

He

will

also

advise as

to

what

would

be

a

likely and reasonable

price.

Price

is

always

an

extremely difficult

problem

especially

at

auction

sales.

The

only real answer

to the

question

what is it

worth? must always

be that

it

is worth

just as

much

as the

collector

is

prepared to

pay for it.

If

two

collectors

want the

same

piece the price

will

rise accordingly.

For

this

reason

55



Collectors and

Collecting

similar

pieces

may fetch

ten

pounds at

one sale

and

thirty at

another,

simply because

at

the second there happened

to

be

more

competition. Some guidance as to

current values

may

be

obtained by

studying

the

list

of

prices realised

at

previous

sales.

Most

auction rooms will supply

these

lists for a small charge.

At

an

auction

it

is

generally best to set

a

price and stick

to

it.

If

the bidding passes

this

figure

do

not

continue

in the

hopes

that

another

ten

shillings

may

secure

it. The usual result

is that

the price

continues

to

rise, and even

if

he is

successful

the

collector

finds he

has

paid

much

more than was intended.

There

are

several ways

by which a collector may dispose

of

his surplus

items.

Probably

the

most

advantageous course, as

far

as price is

concerned,

is

a

private

sale

direct to another

collector.

There are

no

charges

or

commission,

but

the

biggest

problem of course is

finding

a

suitable customer

at the right

time. There is no such problem when selling

to

an antique

dealer, for

they

are

available

all the

time

and will

usually buv

any weapon

in

reasonable condition.

However,

they

are

in

the

trade

to

make

a

profit

and

the

price

that

they

offer

will

be

less

than that from

a

private collector.

The

dealer will know fairly

accurately the

price he

can hope

to

get and

from this sum

he

will

deduct his profit, the resultant

figure

being

the

one

he

offers.

Auction rooms are

a

third

means

of

disposal

and the

number

of

rooms

dealing

with

arms

and

armour

has risen

considerably

over

the

last

few

years.

There

are

some

half a

dozen

in London

and at least

another three

or

four in the

provinces.

Weapons

handed

into a

sales

room should be

accompanied

by

a

reserve

price and a detailed

description for the

catalogue.

The reserve

price

represents

the

lowest

figure

at which the item can

be sold.

Should

the bids fail

to

reach

this figure the item will

then be

withdrawn.

Nearly all auction

rooms require

that

the

lot

should

Print

from

Book

of

Field

Sports

by

H.

Miles,

showing

some

of Colt's

weapons

which the author recom-

mended

in

glowing phrases. The target

was six feet

by two feet with

an Sin. bullseye;

48

rounds were

fired

at

a range of

400

yards, using

a

Colt

regulation



Collectors

and

Collecting

be

handed in some

time

in

advance of the sale,

but

a

few will

allow

lots

to

be

'written in'.

If

a

piece

is

to

be

written

in

it

can

be

handed in

right

up

to

the

day

of the

sale, but,

of

course, this

means

that

no

description

appears

in the

catalogue

and the

only

people to

know of

it

will

be

those

present.

If the

weapon

is

sold

(and even

if

it

fails

to

reach its

reserve)

a

charge

is

made by

the auction

rooms; this

figure

varies,

but

in

the U.K.

it

is

usually

around

ten

per

cent

of the

selling

price;

in

the

U.S.A. the

figure

is

frequently

much

higher.

This sum

is

deducted

from the

price

received,

and the

balance

will

be

forwarded

to

the

vendor,

although it may be

days

or weeks

before

the

cheque

is

actually

sent.

It

is

quite

obvious

that

price

must be a

deciding

factor

in

what can

be

collected.

Wheellocks

are

delightful

and beautiful

weapons,

but only

the

wealthiest can hope

to

build

up

a

collec-

tion

of

them.

The

flintlock was

in

use

for

a

much

longer

period

and

many

more

were made

and

it

is

still fairly

common.

Per-

cussion

weapons

were

produced

in quantity

and

being more

recent

many

more

have

survived,

but

on

the

whole

they

are

less

attractive

to

collectors

than the

flintlock.

Long

arms

are

bulkier,

less

easy

to

display

and

store,

and for

these

reasons

tend to be

less

popular with

collectors

than

pistols.

Cartridge

weapons are

outside

the

province of

this

book

and,

in

any

case, require

a

firearms

certificate

in

Britain.

The

1937

Firearms

Act

sets

down

that

firearms

kept

as

curios

and decora-

tions

do

not

need to be

licensed

if they

are over

100

years old.

It

must be

emphasised

that

this

exclusion

applies only

to

weapons

which

are

not

used

for

shooting,

and

if they

are

so-used,

then a

licence is

required.

The

local

police

are

responsible

for

the

enforcement

of the

Act

and sliould be

consulted

in any

case

where

there

is

doubt.

It

will

be

seen

that

for all practical

purposes the

collector

of

normal

means

is

limited

to

Hintlock

and

jHMxussion

pieces, but

within

these

two

broad

categories

there

are

many

approaches.



Collectors and

Collecting

The

period in

time

covers

nearly

three hundred years, and both

types of

weapon

were made and

used over

the

whole world.

Most

collectors

would agree

that specialisation tends to

develop

gradually

and

the

theme

selected

is

seldom

deliberately

chosen. Perhaps some

association,

form

of

design,

or mechanism

will strike

a

response and

from

this

point

on all

other

items

are

eschewed.

Whether

the

collector

specialises

or not

the procedure

on

acquiring

any new

item

is likely

to

be the same.

In general

the

first

step

should be

nothing more than a

close examination.

This

will

enable

the

collector

to

decide

just

how

much

cleaning

or

restoration

is likely

to

be needed.

Having decided on

this

the

weapon

should

be

stripped

down to its

component

parts, but no

matter

how

familiar

one

is with

the type of

weapon care should

be

taken

and the whole

operation

done

carefully

and

methodi-

cally.

When

the stripping has

been

done

the

parts should

be

cleaned

and

examined for

cracks,

marks or pitting.

Details

of all

marks

should be made

and

any

relevant

measurements taken.

Some

form of permanent

record should be

made

of

each

weapon,

and

the degree of

detail must be a

matter

for each

collector.

The

example

given below

will

suffice

for

most

collectors

but

obviously it may

be

extended or

contracted as

desired.

DESIGNATION

(i.e.

number in

collection etc.)

26.

ITEM Boxlock,

brass

barrel,

F/L pocket

pistol.

MAKER

Twigg,

London.

DATE C.I

800

MARKS

London Proof.

OVERALL

LENGTH

S

BARREL LENGTH

3

BORE

(i.e. inside

diameter

of

barrel)

.£

DETAILS

Slab-sided butt

of

walnut,

concealed trigger,

top-sliding safety

catch

—

top

jaw replace-

ment.

^9



Collectors

and Collecting

SOURCE

Purchased

Portobcllo

Market,

Jan.

1964.

Vy\LUE

REFERENCES

See George, Pistols

and Revolvers,

page

98.

These

details

on

a card, together

with a drawing or

photoaraph

will

give all relevant

information

at a

glance.

The

value

entered

requires revision

at intervals

as prices

rise over the

years.

For

privacy

this

value

may

be

in a

simple

price code

where

every

figure

is

represented

by a letter known

only

to

the

collector.

When

the entry

has

been

made the display

of the

weapon

must

be

considered.

Some like

to

put the whole

collection

on

view,

whilst

others

like

to limit

the

display

to

one

or

two

choice

items. This is

obviously a matter

of personal

preference,

but whatever

is

decided

some

means

of hanging the

weapons

is

needed. Pegboard

provides

a

simple, cheap

and

versatile

means

for the

surface may

be painted,

papered or covered with

material,

and the

fittings

available

will usually

accommodate

all

but

the

heaviest and

bulkiest

items. If

a suitable

fitting is

not

available

it can be easily

constructed

from

soft iron wire.

The

wire

used

for

securincT

crates

and

parcels

is

very suitable

and

easily

obtain-

able.

Ideally the

collection

should be behind ^lass,

but this is

not

always

possible

or

desirable;

if

the weapon is

unprotected

it

is

essential to

carry

out frequent cleaning and oiling,

for

dust

and

dam|:>

can

quickly mar

the

finest

of

specimens.

Those

weapons

not displayed

should

be

oiled and

packed

away.

Ideally

no

two items

should be in

contact, but a^ain

if

this

is

impossible

the weapon

should

be

wrapped.

Old

socks

form

a convenient

and

useful

container,

taking

all

but

the

longest

of

pistols.

Filing cabinets

or chests

of

drawers

form

useful

storage

cabinets

and

a lining

of

rubber

or foam

plastic

will

help

to

guard against

accidental ban^s

when

opening and

closing

the

drawers.

The

patent

rust

inhibitors are

useful assets and

may

be

placed

in

each

drawer.

60



Collectors and Collcctincj

The

handling

of weapons

calls

for a certain

amount

of

care

and, in

general, no

weapon

should

be cocked without first

checking with the owner that it

is

safe

to

do so.

When the

hammer

or

cock

has

been

pulled

back

the trigger

should

never

be pressed unless

the

hammer

is firmly held and

allowed

to

return slowly

to

the

fired

position. Failure

to observe

this

important

rule

will

inevitably lead

to

broken

cocks, hammers

and nipples.

One

final point

to

bear

in

mind

is

the question

of

insurance.

Many insurance

companies

will

arrange

coverage at

a modest

premium.

The

company

will

usually

require

some

verification

of

value and this can be done

by any

competent

dealer for a small

fee.

A simple

display

using

peg

wires

plus

standard and

home-made supports;

re-arrangements

are

easy.

6i



5

FAKES

AND COPIES

Prior

to

World War

II

the market

for

antique pistols was

limited,

and

supply

was

sufficient

to

meet

the

normal

demand.

Pre-war

collectors and dealers

love

to

regale newcomers with

tales

of incredibly cheap prices paid

for

fine-quality

pieces.

Any weapon

not

in

first-class condition

was simply

rejected

out

of

hand.

After

the war interest

in the

field

of antiques

gradually

expanded,

and

with the increased

interest

came a

rise

in output

of

published material.

These

books

stimulated

further

interest,

and

a

spiral

movement

started

with

a

greater

demand

for

a

diminishing

supply.

As is the

case in

every

field

of

scarcity

a

certain

amount

of questionable material began

to

find

its

way

into

the

markets,

and it is

to be

regretted

that

this supply

has

increased

to

meet

the demand.

It

therefore

behoves

the

collector

to

take care

when

buying

any

new piece.

The

amount

of

care that

a collector

must take depends

greatly

on the

source

of

the supply.

A

reputable

and established

dealer

will never knowingly sell

any weapon

without pointing

out doubtful features. His reputation

is

the

collector's

safeguard

and

in

every

case

the dealer

should

be

prepared

to

sign a

receipt

describing

exactly the

item

beina

sold.

If the

dealer

refuses to do

this, then the purchaser may

well

query the

value of the

dealers'

description.

At

least

one

very well-known

London dealer

in

antique

weapons

will

allow

known collectors

to

take

an

item

on

approval before deciding

to

buy.

This

is

the

fairest

possible

62



Fakes

and

Copies

method,

but

of course

it is

a system which

cannot be

adopted

in

every case

—

being open to

abuse.

The

majority of

auction rooms sell

the lots

as they

stand

and,

it

is

therefore

up

to

the

purchaser

to arrive

at

his

own

decision

in the

majority

of

cases he

has

no

redress

if

the

piece

turns

out

to

be a

fake,

unless it has been

specifically

described as genuine.

In the

case of

purchases

from

an unknown dealer or

collector

the

buyer

must be

even more

vigilant.

The

blatant

fake

is

likely

to

fool only the

most

inexperienced

collector, but

it is

the adapted and altered piece that requires

some

skill

to

detect.

It

is

not

always

easy

to

be

dogmatic,

and

experts

have

often

been

known

to

differ over the

authenticity

of

a piece.

In

many

cases it

is

no more than a matter of

opinion,

cogent

arguments being advanced by

both

sides.

Obviously

opinion must be guided by experience, and the expert's

opinion

is valued because he has studied the

subject

and, above

all,

has

examined a

large

number

of

items. It is the experience that comes

from handling the various weapons that

is

of

most use

to

the

collector.

It

is

easy

to

advise

a

collector

that

he

needs experience

and

suggest that he

gets

as

much

as

possible, but

it

must be

admitted

that

it

is

not quite

so

easy

to

advise

him

how

to

go

about

getting it.

Many

firearms dealers are sympathetic and will allow collectors

to browse in their

shops,

handling

and

examining their stock,

but

their time and patience

are

obviously limited.

The same

remarks

apply

to

museums

which

cannot

allow

all

and

sundry

to

open their cases and examine

the

exhibits.

Possibly

the best places

to

recommend

are

the sale rooms.

Here it

is possible

to

pick

up

and

examine

in

detail a large

variety

of specimens

ranain^

from

top-quality

pieces

to

the more

mundane,

run-of-the-mill

material.

Even

more beneficial,

though not

always

so

easy,

is

to

make

contact with fellow collectors.

It is

very rare

that

a

collector

will not

be

delighted

to

show

off his

collection to

a

fellow

63



Fakes and Copies

enthusiast.

Dealers, museums and libraries can often help

in this

matter, and the

addresses

of some of the

better-known

societies

can

be

obtained

from appropriate reference books.

There exists

a

camaraderie

amongst collectors which

will

ensure

that the

ex-

perience and

resources

of

fellow collectors will be

readilv

available to a

newcomer.

Museums will

provide a

second-best

means

of

study,

but

except

for

the

well-known

collections

it

must be

regretfully

admitted

that

in many cases the

labels are not

always

reliable. Standards

are

improving and this

is

partly due

to pressure brought

to bear

by

local

collectors. In many cases

it

is

better

to visit

collections

frequently,

examining

the

exhibits

from

all

directions,

as

closely

as the cases will

allow,

but

limiting

each

visit

to

a

certain selec-

tion

of the

exhibits.

Books

are

the

third

source

of

knowledge

and experience.

The

list of books

dealing

with firearms

and

associated

subjects

is

now

quite

formidable and it

is almost impossible to keep

up

to date

with

the

flood

of

new titles. Many of

the

earlier

books

have been

superseded

by

more

reliable,

modern

volumes

published

at

prices

ranging from a few

shillings

to

several guineas. The

new

collector

is

faced

with an imposing list of

titles.

Obviously the

scope

of

his

interests

will

limit his

choice,

but

it

is

possible

to

build

up

a

basic reference

library

which will

help

in most

matters. One very

important point in

deciding

on

a

book must

be the

illustrations

and

it

will

be

found

that

a

few

good photo-

graphs

are

often

worth

a

whole chapter of text.

The perfect

book has yet

to

be

written

but the bibliography

on page

77

lists

a

number of titles which may

be

easilv

obtained

and which can be

relied

on

for general accuracy.

The

titles

are

limited to

those

written

in

Hnirlish,

but

there are also

many

published in Italy, Germany

and

France

that

arc

of

the

greatest

value

-

allowintJ

for the

lanuuaije

problem.

The

books

should be

studied and

comjwred

and

it

is bv

no

means

a

waste

of

time

to

cover

the

captions

and

attempt

to

date

64



Fakes and

Copies

and identify the various pieces before

readina

about them.

Assuming that a beginner

has

now

acquired

a fair basic

know-

ledge and is

anxious

to

add to

his

collection,

how

is he

to

decide

on

the authenticity

of

a piece?

The

first

step must

be

to

handle

the

item, for there is a

'feel' about

a

good quality

weapon

that is

difficult to

describe but is

nonetheless tangible.

If the barrel

has

been

changed

it

is

not uncommon

for

the

balance

to be

upset,

although, in

general, this applies only

to

top-quality

pieces.

The next step

is

to

examine

the

visible

metal work.

If

there

is pitting

and

rusting

is

it

uniform

and if

not, is

there

a reasonable

explanation

for

the

discrepancy?

Replacements

will

not,

unless

carefully

worked,

bear the

same

degree

of pitting.

The

most

commonly

replaced

parts

are

likely

to

be the

cock,

top

jaw, and

screw,

and

particular

attention

should

be

paid

to these.

It

is

now

possible to

obtain

cast

blanks of these items

which

need only be

filed

to

shape, but these

are

of a different metal

texture

to

the

old

worked

steel and it

is possible

for

a practised

eye

to dis-

tinguish them.

The

shape of the cock, jaw

and tri^^er should

all

be critically

appraised

and

they

should conform

to

certain broad

patterns

which are

fairly

easily

recognisable.

Any obvious

discrepancy should be examined

more

closely

to

see if

there has

been a replacement.

Next

the stock

and furniture

should be examined.

The

lock

and

similar

parts

which

are

let

into

the

stock

should fit

snugly

without

gaps.

Any

fresh

cutting

or

shaping

must be

suspect.

If a

piece

has

been

stored

in

a

warm

dry

place

for

a

long

period

the

stock may shrink,

but the gaps

left

by shrinkage

are

small and

follow closely the

line

of the lock or similar fitting.

If possible

the

lock

should be removed and the recess examined,

for

it is

not unknown for

locks to

be

replaced

and the

stock

cut

to

accommodate

the replacement.

Any

fresh cutting here

should

condemn

the weapon as

having

been tampered with.

The

chances

of a

lock

fitting perfectly

into

a different

stock are small

for

each

weapon was a unique piece—albeit

from

the same craftsman,

S..4.

6^



Fakes and

Copies

hand-finished,

and

thus varied

sHghtly

from its

companions.

Any

marks

should next be

examined for

these

can

be of

the

utmost

value

in

identifying a specimen. The

great

majority of

barrels

were

tested

or

proved,

and

a

mark

verifying

this

proof

was

stamped

on

to the

barrels. Since

there was

a

considerable

export

market

it is

not

uncommon

to

find

English barrels

in

French

pistols or

Spanish

barrels

in

English stocks.

In

addition

to

the proof

marks there may

be

a maker's mark

or

name

on the

barrel and

lock

plate, and obviously these

should

correspond.

This was not

necessarily the

case

with

top-quality

early

pieces where

there

may be as

many as three

or

four

names.

The

barrel,

lock, stock

and

decoration were

done by

separate

craftsmen

each of

whom placed

his mark or

name

on the

weapon.

There are

many lists

of

makers' names

and marks and

many

of

the

books

in

the bibliography

contain such lists. These

lists

are

not

to

be

accepted as

definite, for

research is

necessitating

fre-

quent

revision.

However,

for

general

purposes the dates

given

may

be accepted

as being

reasonably accurate.

Absence

of

a

maker's

name

means

no

more

than

that

it

was

probably

made by a smaller

gunsmith who

did not

feel

that

his

name

was

likely

to

enhance its value. It

was not

unknown for

retailers

to

have their names

inscribed on

the

weapon,

and in

this

case the

name

on

the

weapon

will not

appear in any

list

of

makers.

Any

silver

or

gold

work

on

a

weapon

will

normally bear

a

hallmark

;

the

date

of the

hallmark should

obviously

tally

with

the

date of

the weapon.

The

maker's name

or mark

will usually be

engraved

on

the

metal

work,

and

engraving

will

also be

used

for

decorative

effect

as well ;

it

is a

skilled

job

and

amateur

embellishments

are

normally

easy to

distinguish.

Inscriptions

should

always be

examined

extremely

carefully,

especially if

they

purport

to

prove

an

association

with

a famous

event

or

person.

Since

such

an

association

will

certainly

mean that

a

high

price is

being

66



Fakes

and

Copies

asked it is a

very

wise precaution

to get

a

second

expert opinion.

If

a

piece

is cased the accessories and case

should

also be

scrutinised. Check that the bullet mould matches the calibre

of

the weapon;

see

if the

maker's

name and the

trade label,

if

present,

are the same.

The weapon should rest

snugly in the

fitted

compartments and any breaks

or

cutting

should be

examined closely.

The

lining will

normally

show signs of rubbing

and

wear

and

these marks

should

obviously match

the weapon

and accessories.

The majority

of

cases

were of oak and mahogany,

and the method of

construction was

fairly uniform so

it

is as

well

to

examine

some

genuine

cases.

It

is

easy

to suggest these

points

to

bear

in

mind,

but

impossible

to

be dogmatic,

and each

item

must

be

assessed

as a whole.

There

may be

a perfectly acceptable reason

for

an apparent

discrepancy

and it

is

a

rash collector who condemns

too hastily.

Weapons

by

their

very

nature and purpose were

subject to

hard

wear

and

must

have

suffered

damage

and

consequent

repair.

It

is

thus

not

uncommon

to

find

pistols

with

damaged

stocks

carefully

put together, but

—

once

again

-

experience

will

enable the

collector

to

judge whether it is a

modern

repair

or

not. In the case of later

revolvers the

various

parts

were num-

bered and

if

it

happened

that

a piece was broken it was replaced

and the number,

therefore,

differs.

Dirt

should

not,

of

itself, be a reason for rejecting a piece,

for accumulated

fluff,

dried oil and

dirt can make a

genuine

piece look

like scrap

material and

yet when

this

filth

is

removed

a

piece

well

worth

having

may be revealed.

On

the other hand

there

is

a

deeper ingrained dirt which is extremely difficult to

remove

and this

can

be

a

real

problem. In the case

of

fakes the

first

type

of

dirt

is

fairly easily simulated,

but

the

ingrained

dirt

is less

likely

to

conceal a dud.

Having looked

at,

handled,

examined

and prodded the

weapon

a

decision

must

be

made

and

it

is

unfortunate

that

the

decision

is usually required

at

short

notice. Some dealers will

67

E

2



Fakes

and

Copies

hold an

item

for

a

limited period

whilst the collector

makes

up

his

mind,

but

in many cases this grace

is

out of

the

question.

Wherever

possible, if there

are grounds

for doubt,

do

not

hesitate to

call

in

a

second

opinion,

for

no

reputable

dealer

will

object.

To buy or

not? If

the piece is

genuine

and

is something;

that

the

collector wants,

then

there

is

no problem

apart from

the

price ;

the

biggest

problem

arises

when there

is

some

doubt

about one

aspect. There are some who will not consider

any

item which

isn't

completely

original

and

this is

understandable,

but,

for

the

average collector, just a little

too

idealistic. In

general

every

collector

must compromise

and

accept

pieces which are

not

perfect.

The

areat

decision is

how far one is prepared

to

compromise

and the best answer must surely be 'as

little

as

possible'.

How

common are

fakes

and

copies?

Deliberate out-and-out

forgeries

are

not

really common,

for the amount

of

work

involved

is

usually excessive. Except

with

the higher-priced

weapons,

like

early

and

rare

Colts

and

fine-quality

wheellocks,

the return

would

hardly justify the labour. The

number

of 'near'

forgeries

is

regrettably

much

higher.

Barrels can be

cut

down

or

extended,

locks

changed, stocks

re-cut, decoration

and

inscriptions added,

and

it

is not

unknown for weapons

to be

practically rebuilt

from

spare parts

; metal work can

be

treated

to

produce a

very

creditable copy

of

genuine

pitting,

and

the

pitfalls

for

the

unwary

can

be

many.

There

are

now

firms,

especially

in

America, which specialise

in

the

production of

blanks, screws,

springs

and

even

produce do-it-yourself

kits to

build

pistols

and guns.

These

pieces are

sold

in

good

faith, but

of

course the

unscrupulous

may

well take

advantage of these

materials. In certain fields there

is a

greater

danger still for the

increased

demand

has given

rise

to

a number

of

firms

who

produce extremely fine

replicas

of Colts,

Remingtons and Tower

I

lintlock

pistols.

The

weapons

are

well

made

by

craftsmen in

68



Fakes

and

Copies

Belgium, Italy and

Japan

and

are intended

to

be Hred.

They

are

nearly

all

marked

by

the firm

producing

them and

show

clearly

that

they

are

reproductions, but again it

is

to

be

feared

that

in

a

few

years'

time

wear

and

the

skill

of

the forger

will

have

turned

some

of these

into

fakes which

will

fool many collectors.

Not

only

are

pistols and revolvers

beina

made

but

other accessories

-

bullet

moulds,

powder flasks and

nipple keys

-

as well.

Despite

the apparent hazards and snags

listed

above

the

collector should not

be too

frightened

of making a

decision.

Inevitablv

there

will

be

times

when

a

wrong

decision

is taken,

but this

must

be

borne

with.

In

conclusion

it

must

be

stressed

once

again

that

there

is

no substitute for

experience

in

handling

weapons, and

no

opportunity

of

gaining

this experience should

be missed

if

the

collector hopes to

build

up

a decent

collection.

69



6

REPAIRS AND

RESTORATION

When does a

repair become a

restoration?

When

is

a

piece

restored

and

when

is

it

faked?

These

two

questions

pose

a

problem

that

faces

every

collector at some time.

If

it

is

permis-

sible

to

replace a

broken

spring is it

not

equally

right

to

cut

a

new

stock?

The

niceties

of

the

problem

may

be

debated

and argued

endlessly,

but

most collectors

would

agree that in

general it is

acceptable

that a

piece

be

restored as

nearly as possible

to

its

original

condition, but no

additions, embellishments

or altera-

tion

can

ever

be

justified;

to

repair

a stock

is

right,

to

add an

inscription

is

utterly

wrong.

From this

it

would

seem reasonable

to argue

that

the difference between a restored piece

and

a

fake

is simply one of

intention.

The

guiding

idea

behind any work

should

be the restoration of the weapon

to

the

condition

it

was

in

when

first made.

Accepting

this principle any piece which

is

changed

in

any

way from

its original

design

may, with

justifica-

tion,

be

called bogus.

The

putting together

of

disassociated

pieces to

make a

weapon

must be condemned,

for

it

con-

travenes

this basic principle.

If

restoration or repair

is

permissible

how

far may

one

go?

This

is

probably one of the most

hotly debated

points

amongst

collectors. In spite of what has

been

said

most

would

not

agree

to

the complete restoration of a weapon

—

with barrels

buffed

and

coloured,

all

decoration

restored,

new

parts

made

and

the

70



Repairs

and

Restoration

mechanism

overhauled.

Collectors

tend to

condemn

a

piece

that

has

had

this

full

treatment

and usually

prefer

a piece that

has

just

been

carefully cleaned

and a

minimum of

essential

work

done.

However,

the

final

decision

is

the

individual

collector's

and

must

be

largely

a matter

of

taste.

Obviously

the

amount and extent of

restoration

undertaken

personally must be

determined by

the collector's

skill.

If he

lacks the

appropriate

skill the

only

right course

is

to

find

some-

one

else

to

do

the

job.

There

are

few more

depressing

sights

than

a

badly restored piece.

A

poor

restoration

is

frequently

much

worse

than the condition

it

sought

to

remedy and

means

that more

work

is

involved

in

renewing

the

poor-quality

work

and

in

refurbishing.

Even if

the

collector

lacks

the requisite

mechanical

and

technical skill he

can still

do a

great

deal.

It must be

emphasised

that the first

action

on acquiring any

muzzle-loading

weapon

should

always be to check

that

it is

unloaded, for

it

is not

uncommon to

find

weapons still

charged

with

powder

and

shot

gunpowder

does

deteriorate

with

age

but

is still

capable

of

producing

a

nasty

explosion. The

easiest

method

of

checking

is

to

push a

piece

of

dowel

down

the

barrel

until

it will

go

no

further.

Mark

off

the length of

dowel inside the

barrel,

and

if

this

measurement

corresponds

with

the

outside

length of barrel

it

may

be taken that no

charge is

present.

Should

a

charge be

found the greatest care

must

be taken in

drawing

the

ball and

shaking

out

the

powder.

It

would

be

as

well

to

wash

out

the

barrel with

warm

water.

Assuming

that the weapon

requires some

attention the

first

useful

job

is

to strip

the

whole

thing

down,

but

taking

the

greatest care

with

each step.

The

procedure will

vary

slightly

for

each

weapon,

but,

in

general, the

lock

should be

removed

first

by

unscrewing

the

one

or

two

screws

passing

through

the

stock.

Often

the screws

are

stubborn and rusty

and

the

impor-

tance of a

correct

sized

screwdriver

cannot be

over-emphasised.

71



Repairs

and

Restoration

A

well

fitting head can

make all

the

difference

in the world

when

trying

to

loosen a

screw, and

it is worth

buying

several

screwdrivers

and filing

the blade

until

it

fits

snugly into

the most

common-sized

screw

heads. If the

screw

refuses

to

move,

pene-

trating

oil can

be used as

well

as a

very

gentle tapping

of

the

screwdriver. If the screw

resists every

effort,

then

it

may

well

have

to

be drilled out as

a last desperate

measure.

After

the lock, tiie

barrel

is

next

to be

removed

by undoing

the

tang

screw

and tapping

out the securing

pins,

or

removing

the securing

bands.

The

trigger guard,

butt cap

and

ramrod

pipes

are usually

held

in by

pins

or

screws

and these

can also

be

removed.

When

tapping

out

the

pins,

a

blunted

metal

dart

forms

a

useful

punch. Very

great care is necessary,

for

sometimes

the

pin rusts and fuses

to

the

wood

of the stock. A

hard,

incautious,

knock

can break

oft

quite a large piece

of the

stock.

When the weapon

has

been stripped as far as

possible one

can

assess the amount

of

restoration

and

cleanini^ required.

The

first

step

is usually the removal

of rust.

The

collector

soon

learns

to

recognise

two

kinds

of

rust,

the

easily-removed,

reddish

layer

and the

tougher,

more-penetrating,

blackish

film.

Both require

some

form

of abrasive and, in general,

the least abrasive

material

which is

effective

should be

used.

Jewellers'

emery

paper is very

useful

indeed,

the grades

varying

from

mildly

coarse

to one

so

fine that

it

feels almost

like

ordinary paper. The

coarsest grades

are

still

less

abrasive

than most

grades

of emery cloth

or paper.

If

work

is started

with a coarse

^rade and replaced

with

finer

grades as the rust is

reduced

the final

result

will

be

a mirror

finish. Much labour can be

saved

by soaking

off

the

worst

of the

rust with a

mixture

of

oil and paraffin.

The

mixture

may

either

be

wiped on, or small

pieces immersed

and

left to soak.

There

are certain

proprietary

rust-removers

on

the

market

which

are

very

effective, but

they

must

be

handled

with

care.

If

the

metal

is

left too

long in the

solution

the surface

is

attacked

^n^\, in

eftect,

etched.

When

taken out

from

the

rust-remo\er

72



Repairs

and

Restoration

the

surface

is

often a rather leaden colour, but further polishing

with

very

fine emery will

restore

a shine.

When the metal

surface

has

been brought

to

the

desired

degree

of

finish

a thin

layer

of

oil

should

be

applied

and handling

with bare hands

avoided,

for

grease from

the

pores can

leave

quite a

corrosive

deposit

which will

lead

to

rusting.

If

oil

is

undesirable certain proprietory dusters can

be

obtained. These

are

impregnated

with

a silicone preparation and,

when

wiped

over

a surface,

leave behind

a

thin

protective

film.

The

stock will

also

require cleaning,

and one of

the

best

methods

here

is

to

work

the

surface

gently

and

carefully

with

linseed oil and fine steel

wool.

Properly applied this

process

will

remove

most

of

the

old

varnish

and dirt.

Once

a

good

finish

has

been

achieved

it

will

probably

require

little

more

than

an

occasional

wipe

over

to

maintain

a good

surface.

Polish may

be

used, but

aaain

this is a

matter

of choice.

Dents

can

be

removed,

or

at least greatly

reduced,

by

the

steam

method.

A

piece

of cloth, soaked in hot water, is

placed

over the

dent and

a

hot

iron

applied

until

steam

is

given

off. The

hot steam causes the

wood

to

swell,

so reducing

the

dents.

Improved

polishes

now

available will

give a fine

finish

to

^old,

silver, pewter

and brass. Normally nothing

more than

a good

clean is required

to bring

out the beauty of the

decorative

effect

of these metals,

but

the collector

may

wonder

about the

advisability

of

lacquering

the surfaces when

they

are cleaned.

The

lacquer

has

a

tendency

to

reduce

the

brilliance

of

a finely

polished

surface

but, of

course,

it

does

mean that

cleaning

problems are greatly reduced.

If

lacquer

is

used

it

should

be the

very

best quality otherwise

it

will

darken

and

so

defeat

its

own

purpose.

Cleaning

and stripping really

present

no serious problems,

but the

restoration

of

a

broken or missing

part is

not quite

so

easy.

The

first

step must

be

to

decide

exactly what

is missing.

Of course, it

is easy

to

say

that the

top

jaw

or cock is broken

and

73



Repairs and Restoration

must

be replaced, but

before anything can

be done

it

is

essential

to

know exactly

what

the missing

piece

looked

like.

Reference

should be

made

to

photographs, museum

items

or similar pieces

in

other collections.

Measurement and sketches must

be

made

or

else

photographs

taken.

A working

sketch

must then

be

produced

and

shaping

started.

Nowadays

it is possible

to

obtain

cast

blanks of cocks

and

top

jaws

and

this

has removed

a

lot of

the

drudgery

from the

job of making these

pieces,

but

it is

still

very

much a matter

of

working slowly, shaping and checking

on

the

pistol

and on

the diagram to ensure a

reasonably

finished

piece.

A

great

deal

of

skill is

required

to

manufacture

a

spring;

although

many collectors do make

their own

they would

certainly not claim

that

it

is

an easy

business.

The temper must

be just

right or

the spring

will snap after one

or

two

compres-

sions.

In

general

it

is more satisfactory to

have

the

job done

by a

professional spring-maker. If

ordering a spring

it

is

essential

to

give

the fullest possible

details as

to

dimension

and

strength.

Preferably the

lock

should

be

sent

with

the

order.

Ramrod pipes,

trigger

guards

and butt

caps can all be

obtained

pre-cast

and,

usually,

need

only

be

filed

to

fit. As pointed

out

in

the

chapter on

fakes,

the

brass

tends

to

be slightly

different

in

colour since

brass is

an alloy and its composition

may vary

considerably.

Barrels

normally

require little

in

the

way

of

restoration

apart

from cleaning.

In

the

case

of

octagonal barrels the cleaning cloth

should be

wrapped round a

flat stick

to

ensure

the whole

surface

is

evenly

cleaned.

When

the

barrel has been

removed

from the stock some of

the original blue or

brown colouring

will

often be

seen

on

the

underside. This particular

effect was

obtained by

a

controlled

rusting

process

which left

a

surface

that

would

not

easily rust

any further.

The

effect

is

rather

pleasing

and

the collector

may

well

feel

that

he

would

like

to

re-brown

the

barrel.

There

are

74



Repairs

and

Restoration

dozens of

formulae and

most

collectors have

their

own

favourite,

but

with all

of

them two

things

are

essential

: before

the

solution

is

applied the barrel must be

given

a

fine

mirror

finish, though

if

the

surface

is

pitted

it

is

not

recommended

that

browning

be

started; when a

fine

polish

has

been

obtained the surface

must

be

cleansed of

all grease.

Strong detergent

or

stain-removing

fluid

may be

used,

and once the grease

has

been

removed

the

metal

should not be touched

again

with the

bare

hand.

It

is

useful

to

push

a

wooden

stick

down the muzzle and use

this as a

convenient handle. The solution

is

then

applied

evenly

over

the

whole

surface

and

the

barrel

left

until

an

even

layer

of

red

rust

appears. This layer of rust is

removed

and the process

repeated

a

large

number of times. After

a

recommended time the

barrel

is

washed in

hot

water

and polished,

and

if

the

procedure has

been

successful a fine,

deep brown

colour

will

appear.

The

process can be rather chancy but if it

is

unsuccessful there

is

no

damage

since the

barrel can

easily

be

restored

to

a

bright

polished

state

with

no harmful

consequences.

Blueing is both easier and less

effective. The

original

blueing

is

distinctive and was obtained

by a

process

involving

heat.

Patent

preparations are

available

to

provide

a

cold blue

and, once

again,

it

is

imperative that the surface

be

absolutely

free

from

grease. The

resultant blue

is

nearly

always a

much

deeper,

darker

blue

than

the old

original

colour but,

nonetheless,

many

collectors would

sooner see

this than

a plain

polished

surface.

Stocks

are often

cracked

or

split

and

once

again

technology

has made

available many fine impact adhesives

which form

an

immensely

strong

bond.

Some

of

these

preparations are

instantly

adhesive and

great

care

must be

taken

to

ensure

that an

accurate

join can be made before uniting the

pieces. If a piece of

the

stock

is

broken

the job is

obviously

much

more

complex.

Plastic

wood, in

general,

should

be

eschewed for

it is

seldom

satisfactory

and

gives

a

poor

amateur look

to

the

job.

If

a new

piece

of

wood

is

to

be inserted

it

is

essential

to study

the

grain and

it

can be a

75



Repairs

and

Restoration

long

and

tedious

process

finding

just the right

piece of

wood

to

match

the

stock.

The

result

of

a

successful search,

however,

will

always

repay

the

time

and trouble

spent.

Missing

ramrods of

wood

are

easily replaced,

but the gradually

taperina

steel

ramrod of

a

long

arm

is

a

much

trigger problem

and

unless

there

are

extensive

machine-shop

facilities to hand it

is

probably

best

to compromise

with

an

ordinary

parallel

-sided

ramrod.

This very

general survey

of

restoration

cannot possibly do

more than

^ive a

few

general

hints

and suggest

possible lines

of

approach. The

bibliography

gives

the titles of

several

books

which

may

prove

of

use,

and

many

of

the

periodicals

often

include

articles

which contain

useful

tips.

One

final

word of caution

-

if

at

all

in doubt

about

whether

to

restore

or not, the

best

advice

is

'don't '

A

poorly restored

piece

is

much

less

attractive than

an untouched

item,

even

if

the latter

is

missina

some

essential part.

An example

of

restoration

or

a

fake—

it

is impos-

sible

to

say.

This

strange but

very

interesting pistol

is

basically

of

Scottish

manufacture but

at

some

time

it

has

been

fitted with

a

wooden

stock and

an

ivory butt

and

fore-end.

A trigger

guard

has

also

been

added,

and

the

lock and

barrel

were

probably

associated.



7

BOOKS

AND

COLLECTIONS

The

literature of guns and shooting

is

extensive and

growing

continuously. Many of the books are of a very specialised nature

and

others

are

outdated

and

almost

worthless.

Every

collector

will

need a certain number of reference

books,

and since

there

are at present something

like

3,000

titles

listed,

it

is

often

difficult

for a beginner

to

decide

which

are of

value.

This

list

of suggested titles

is divided

into

two

sections, the

first comprising

those

still

in

print

and

readily

obtainable,

and

the second listing out-of-print

titles.

Many

of

the

titles in

Section

II

are very

rare

and,

in general,

of

antiquarian value

rather

than

practical

use.

For

those anxious

to

build

up

a

comprehensive

library

the most likely

sources

of

supply are the

few

booksellers

who

specialise in books

on

arms and armour.

Antiquarian

catalogues are always

worth

studying,

and it

is

still

possible

to

find

a

bargain. It

is

worth noting that

catalogues

issued by

sale

rooms

often

contain fine-quality plates and

much

useful informa-

tion.

Many of the larger

collections

also issue catalogues, and

these,

too, are

valuable

reference

books.

The

titles listed below

are all of books

in English,

but it

should

be pointed

out

that

there is

a

wealth

of

material

available

in

many other

languages,

notably German, Danish,

French

and

Swedish.

I

General

Books

Blackmore,

H.

L. -Firearms

(London,

1964)

77



Books

and Collections

Blair,

C.

—

European

and American

Arms

(London,

1962)

Boothroyd,

G.

-

Gun

Collecting

(London,

1961)

Hayward,

J.

F.

-

Art

of

the

Gunmaker,

VoL I (London,

1962

;

second

edition,

196^)

Hayward,

J,

F.

-

Art

of

the

Gunmaker,

Vol. II

(London,

1963)

Hayward,

J.

F. (Victoria

&

Albert

Museum)

-

European

Firearms

(London,

19^^)

Held, R.

—

Age

of

Firearms

(London,

i95'9)

National Rifle

Association

of America

-

Gun

Collectors

Handbook

(Washington,

19^9);

reprints

of

selected

articles from

American

Rifleman

Peterson, H,

L.

(Editor)

-

Encyclopaedia

of

Firearms (London,

1964)

Peterson, H. L.

-

The hook

of

the

Gun

(London,

1964)

Riling,

R.

-

Guns and

Shooting,

A

Eihliographj

(New

York,

19^1)

Recent

books of

a

more

specialised

nature

Atkinson,

J.

A.

-

Duelling

Pistols

(London,

1964)

Blackmore,

H,

L.

-

Guns

and

Rifes

of

the

World

(London,

196^)

Blackmore,

H.

L.

-

British Militarj

Firearms,

i6jo-i8jo

(London,

1961)

Carey, A.

M.

—

English,

Irish

and

Scottish

Firearms Makers

(re-

printed London,

i960)

Dillin,

J.

G.

-

The Kentucky

Rife

(fourth edition: New

York,

19^9)

Dowell,

W.

C.

-

The Wehley

Storj

(Leeds,

1962)

Edwards, W.

B.

-

The Storj

of

Colt's Revolver

(Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania,

19^3)

George,

J.

N.

-

English

Guns and

Rifes

(Plantersville, South

Carolina,

1947)

George,

J.

N.

—

English

Pistols and Revolvers

(Onslow County,

North Carolina,

1938;

London

reprint,

1963)

Gyngell, D, S, H.

-

Armourers' Marks (London,

19^9)

H.

M.

Patent

Office,

London

-

Abridgments

of

the Patent

Specif

ca-

78



Books

and

Collections

Deane,

J.

—

Dcane's

Manual

of

the History

and

Science

of

Firearms

(London,

1888)

De

Gheyn,

J.

—

Exercise

oj Arms

for

Calivers,

Afuskets and Pikes

(The Hague,

1607)

Dove,

P.

E.

—

The

Revolver

(Edinburgh, 185^8)

Ffoulkes,

C.

J.

—

Arms

and Armament

(London,

194^;

reprinted,

1947)

Ffoulkes,

C.

J.

—

Armour and Weapons (Oxford,

1909)

Ffoulkes, C.

J.

—

The Gunjounders oj England (Cambridge,

1937)

Ffoulkes,

C.

J.

-

Inventory

and

Survey

oJ

the

Armouries

oJ

the Tower

cj

London (two volumes;

London,

1916)

Freemantle,

T.

F.

-

The Book

oJ

the

Rifle (London,

1901)

Greener,

W.

—

Science

oJ

Gunnery (London,

1841)

Greener,

W.

—

The

Gun

(Edinburgh,

183^)

Greener,

W. W.

-

Modern

Breech

Loaders (London,

i

871)

Greener,

W.

W.

—

The

Gun

and

its Development

(eiahth

edition:

London,

1907)

Grose, ¥.

—

A

Treatise

on Ancient Armour and

Weapons (London,

1786)

Hawker, P.

—

Instructions

to

Young

Sportsmen (London,

1814)

Jervis,

Capt.

J.

W.

—

Our Engines

oJ

War

(London,

18^9)

Jewitt,

L.

—

Rifles

and

Volunteer

Corps

(London, i860)

KaufPmann, H.

J.

-Early American Gunsmiths,

i6^o-i8jO

(Harris-

burg,

Pennsylvania,

19^2)

Page, T.

-

Art

of

Shooting

Flying

(Norwich,

1766)

Pollard, H. B.

C.

—

LListory

of

Firearms

(London,

1926)

Stonehenge

(J.

H. Walsh)

—

The Shot

Gun

and

Sporting

Rife

(London,

1859)

Thornhill,

R.

B.

—

The

Shooting Directory (London,

1S04)

Wilkinson,

H.

-Engines

of

War (London,

1841)

Section

III has

periodicals

which

cater

for firearm enthusiasts,

and

section

IV

those

which contain an

occasit)nal

article on

antique

firearms.

80



Books

and Collections

III

The

American

Rifleman

(Washington,

U.S.A.)

Canadian

Journal

of

Arms

Collecting

(Mount

Royal, Canada)

Gun

Digest (annually;

Chicago,

U.S.A.)

Gun

Report

(Aledo, U.S.A.)

Guns

Review (Leeds)

Gun

World

(California,

U.S.A.)

Journal

of

the Historical Firearms Societj

of

South Ajrica (Cape Town,

S.A.)

Shooting Times (London)

IV

The Connoisseur

(London)

Appollo

(London)

Collectors Guide

(London)

Country

Life

(London)

Journal

of

Arms

and

Armour

Societj

(London)

Journal

oj

the

Societj

for

Armj Historical Research

(London)

V

Collections

of

Small Arms

Only a few of the

collections are

listed below, and

many

smaller museums

—

provincial and

regimental

—

also

contain

items

of interest; details

are given

in reference

books.

Great Britain Birmingham City

Museum

and

Art

Gallery

London

H.M.

Tower of

London

Rotunda,

Woolwich

Victoria and Albert

Museum

Wallace

Collection

Enfield Pattern Room

(special

permis-

sion

required^

Lincoln City

Museum

(small

collection

of

firearms^

Canterbury

8i

West

Gate

Museum

F



Books

and

Collections

G.B. (cont'd)

Yeovil

Wyndham Museum

Glasgow

Kelvingrove Art

Gallerj

and

Museum

Edinburgh Scottish

United

Services

Museum

Austria

Graz

Steiermarkisches

Landeszeug-

haus

Vienna

Kunsthistorisches

Museum

Belgium

Vienna

Liege

Heeresgeschichtliches

Museum

Musee D'Armes

Brussels

Porte

de Hals

Denmark

France

Copenhagen

Paris

Tojhusmuseet

Musee de

V

Armee

Italy

Turin

Armeria

Reale

Norway

Spain

Oslo

Madrid

Haermuseet

Museo

del

Ejercito

Madrid

Armeria

Real

Sweden

Skokloster

Castle

Stockholm

Kungl

Livrustkammaren

Switzerland

Bern

Bernisches Historisches

Museum

Geneva

Musee

d^

Art

et

d'Histoire

Solothurn

Zeughaus

Zurich

Schweizerisches

Landesmuseum

United

States

California

Connecticut

Anaheim

Los

Angeles

Hartford

Disneyland

County

Museum

State

Library

Hartford

Wadsworth

Atheneum

Newhaven

Winchester

Museum

Georgia

Illinois

Fort

Oglethorpe

Chicago

82

Chickamauga-

Chattanooga

National

Military

Park

George

F.

Harding

Museum



Books

and

Collections

Massachusetts

Nevada

New

York

Ohio

Virginia

Washington,

D.C.

Boston

Springfield

Worcester

First

Corps

Cadets

Armory

Armorj

Museum

John

Woodman

Higgins

Armorj

Harold's

Club

Metropolitan

Museum

of

Art

United

States

Military

Academy

Museum

of

Art

WilHamsburg

The

Powder

Magazine

Smithsonian

Institution

Reno

New

York

West

Point

Cleveland

83



84



PART

II

A

Sequence

of

Photographs

85



:%:_

PLATE

I

An

example

of

a

very

early,

sixteenth-century

match-

lock

which has

an

octagonal barrel

of

bronze.

A rear

sight is

fitted.

The

lock is

missing, but

was

probably

of

the

hand-operated,

serpentine type,

for matchlocks

such as

this

are

commonly

shown

in

engravings

of

the

period. A

hole

pierces

the

butt

and

was

no

doubt

for

attachment

of

a

lanyard.

Overall

length

42

in.

Barrel length

295

in. Bore -625.

PLATE

2

Lock of

a

seventeenth-

century

matchlock

with pan un-

covered.

The pan, which

w^as

filled

with

fine

priming powder,

is

rectangular;

a

short length of

match is gripped

between

the

jaws

of

the

serpentine.

This

weapon

is

very

much

plainer

than

that

in

plate

4

and is almost

certainly

a

common military

pattern.



I



PLATE

3

This

harquebus

of

the

late

sixteenth

century

is

beginning

to

assume the

characteristics

of

later models.

The barrel

is

circular for

the

greater

part

of

its

length,

but

becomes

octagonal

at

the

breech. A

large V-shaped

rear

sight is fitted. There

is

no

trigger-guard, but

the

stock

is

shaped

to fit

the

hand.

The lock mechanism

is of

the

snaplock

type.

Decoration

comprises

ivory inlay

of

mermaids

and

scrolls.

Barrel

48

in.

Calibre

-58

in.

PLATE

4

The lockplate is from a very finely re-

stored

specimen

of

a

seventeenth-century

match-

lock.

The

tube peep

sight

can

be

seen above

the

breech.

The

priming

pan

has the

cover in the safety

position. A screw is lacking

from the

serpentine,

and

this would

normally

have been tightened

to

hold the

match

firmly in

place. Mother-of-pearl

is

used to decorate

the stock. The

trigger is the

same

shape as

those

found on

north-African

weapons

two

centuries

later.

Weight

of

the weapon

is 16 lb. Over-

all length 61-5

in.

Barrel

length

47

in.

Bore

-7

in.



m

m,

PLATE

i

Group

of four

high-quality

Japanese

matchlocks.

The

butts

all

have

the

highly

charac-

teristic

Japanese shape

and

the

barrels

bear

typical

inlay

decoration.

In

each

weapon

it will

be

seen

that

the

serpentine

moves forward

—

i.e. away from

the

stock.

The bottom

matchlock

of

the

group

is

a

repeating

weapon

with

hand-rotated

barrels.



l«-.-

V

-i^ll

E^---'

fi<^

*

'»

•

1**

SM.5

J*



PLATE

7

A miniature,

Japanese

matchlock

pistol,

probably made

in

the early nineteenth

century and

possibly

intended rather as a

toy

than

a

weapon.

The

ebony

stock

is decorated with small

inlays

of

brass and

mother-of-pearl. The

octagonal barrel is

pinned

into

place on the stock which

is

also

drilled

to hold

the

missing ramrod.

The

lockplate,

spring

and

match

holder

are

all

in brass.

Overall

48

in. Barrel

23

in.

Bore

j

in.

PLATE

6

A fine specimen

of an

Indian matchlock known

as a

Bandukh

Torador. The

long,

straight butt

is

characteristic

of

these

weapons,

and

the

stock

of

rosewood

is decorated

along its

whole

length

with tigers

and

other animals. The trigger is

shaped

and

the

serpentine

moves

forward

towards

the pan.

Dating

of

these

weapons is

extremely

difficult

since the

pattern

changed

but

little

over

the

centuries.

This

particular weapon is probably

eighteenth-century.

Overall

length

64

in.

Barrel

468

in.

-6

calibre.



PLATE

8

Detail

of

a

similar

weapon

to that

of

plate

6,

showing

the

fine

ivory

inlay.

The

two

spike-

like

objects

attached

by

a

chain

are

prickers

to

clear

the

touch

hole of

any

clogging.

The

barrel is

decorated

and

damascened,

and

some

silver

decoration

has

also

been

added.

Probably

late

eigh-

teenth

century.

Overall

length

68-2

in.

Barrel

4875

in.

Calibre

55.



PLATE

9

An unusual repeating

matchlock from

India. The six

chambers

were

loaded

separately

through

the

opening

seen

at

the

top of

the

swelling.

Each

chamber

is

fitted with

its own

pan

and

cover,

and

as

each

was

fired

the

cylinder

was

rotated

by

hand and

locked

into position

by

a steel

spring situated

on

top

of

the

barrel.

The

top

of the barrel

and

ribs

of

the

chambers

are

decorated

with

silver-wire foliate

patterns.

The redwood

stock

has

a

few

simple

inlays

of

white

bone.

Possibly

seventeenth century.

Overall

length

40-2^

in.

Barrel

length

155

in. Calibre -52.



THE

WHEELLOCK

This

complex

and

mechanically

intricate

system

was

probably

first developed

in

Italy,

early

in the sixteenth

century. Leonardo

da

Vinci

had

produced

an

idea

for a

wheellock

mechanism,

but

it

is

not

clear whether

any

were actually

constructed.

Basically

the

system

relies

on

the

friction between

a

rotating,

rough-edged

wheel and

a

piece

of

pyrites.

The

friction

produced

sparks

which

fired

the

priming

and

thus the

main

charge.

The

main

spring which

supplied

the

motive

force was

usually

mounted inside

the lockplate,

although it

was

occasionally fitted

on the outside.

Since the mechanism

was complex

and thus

expensive,

it was

not normally fitted

to

poor-quality

weapons,

and

the majority

of wheellocks

tend

to

be ornate and

decorative.

By the mid-sixteenth

century

the

wheellock

had

become

fairly

common

among

the

wealthier

members

of

society,

but

by

the middle of

the seventeenth

it had

been displaced

by

the

cheaper,

more

robust,

flintlock.

In

Germany,

however,

hunting

and

target

rifles

utilising

the

wheellock

continued

to be made

well

into

the eighteenth

century.

The

wheellock

represented

a very

important

step

forward

for

several

reasons

;

possibly the

most

important

was that

weapons

could

now

be

loaded,

primed,

then

put aside

for long periods

in complete

safety,

and

yet

be quite

ready for instant

use.

96



PLATE

lo Extremely

fine pair

of

double-barrelled

wheellock

pistols.

Each

barrel is fitted

with

its

own

lock

although

both

are operated

by a single

trigger.

The front lock is

fired

with

the

first

pressure

and

the

rear

lock

operates

when

further

pressure is

applied.

The

stock is

entirely

of

steel etched

with floral

scrolls. Cord

or wire

was originally

bound around

the

circular

section

of

the

butt. These

pistols were

made in Nuremberg

about

1570.

They bear

the

mark

of

the guild

of

that city

as

well

as

the

initials,

P.D.

Overall

length

20

in. Barrel

length of

the

top pistol

is 12-5

in.,

of the

bottom 10-5

in. Bore

-4

in.



-Ti^

PLATE

13

Wheellock pistol

from

Augsburg,

Germany,

c.

1590.

The

shape

is

characteristic

of

its

period.

The mark of

the

maker (Anton

Krugg), a

tankard, is stamped

on

the

breech

together

with

the fir

cone of

Augsburg.

A

chiselled and

gilt

steel

case

completely encloses

the

wheel. Overall

length

19-5

in.

Barrel length

14

in.

y^

PLATE

12

A

wheellock pistol, or

petronel, with carved stock inlaid

with mother of

pearl

and

staghorn.

All

fittings

are

steel,

including

the

butt

cap.

The lockplate is plain

and the

wheel

has

no

cover.

Probably

made

in Brescia dating

from the

early

seventeenth cen-

tury. A

maker's mark is on

the

inside of

the

lock.

Overall length

2075

in.

Barrel

15

in.

Bore -5 in.

T^l^asj^



PLATE

14

An example

of

a wea-

pon

being converted

from

one

system

of ignition

to

a

newer one.

The barrel bears

the

date

1624

and

at

this

time it

would

have

been a

matchlock.

Around

1680

the

lock

was

changed, so prolonging the

weapon's

useful

life. This

weapon

was Flemish or Dutch,

but the

lock

was made

in Dresden

by

a

member

of the famous

gunmaking

family,

Ertel.

Overall

length

607

in.

Barrel

length

487

in. Bore

75

in.



PLATE

IS

The

barrel of this

wheellock

is

rifled

with

8

grooves to

give

greater

ac-

curacy.

Silver

decoration

covers

the

lock

plate

and

it

will be

noticed

that

the safe-

ty-catch

seen

on

many

earlier

specimens

is

no longer

fitted.

The

stock

is

again of

walnut

and

inlaid

with

horn

in

the

form of

classical scenes,

and

bears

the

date

1563.

Recent

research

has

shown that the

style of lock

on this

weapon

was

from

Lithuania

and dates

from

about

1620.

Overall

length

46-

5

in. Barrel

length

346

in.

Bore

5

in.



a

mws^mi^mfumtmsmfm^

HHHBIHHHHWK

r.

PLATES i6

AND

17

One of

a

pair of wheellock pistols of

about 1620.

The wheel is totally enclosed

by a

gilt

cover.

A bar

has been

fitted

from

near

the base

of

the butt

to

the

trigger

guard

and

it is

difficult

to

see

the purpose unless

it was

to

provide

a

firmer grip

for the hand.

The

butt

plate

is

of steel,

and

the fore-end of horn. The engraved

wheel cover and pierced,

pan-release

button can be seen in detail

below.

Overall length

19

in. Barrel length

11-7 in.

Bore

55

in.

Dia-

meter

of the

pan

cover i-6 in.

0^'

,v

»

If;-



'^^t^w-y^.'ii'^--

:.«^.*: ̂ va£SMeasaE

PLATES

i8 AND

19

Wheeliock pctronel of

about 1600. The

walnut

stock has

a simple bone

inlay,

some pieces

of

which

are

engraved

in

straightforward

patterns.

The

barrel

is

octagonal

at

the

breech

and

then

circular.

Rear-sights and fore-sights

are

fitted.

The

lock

plate

is

very

plain

and the

wheel is

completely

unenclosed.

Overall

length

33'3S

^ '

Barrel length

2475

in.

Bore

-45

in.



PLATES

20

AND

21

One

of

a

pair

of

wheellock

pistols

of

about

1640.

The

barrel

is octagonal

for

45

in. and then

becomes

circular

and

is

secured

by

a

screw

which

passes from

inside

the

trigger-guard

up

through

the

stock

and

screws

into a

metal bar, or

tang,

protruding

from the

rear of the barrel.

The

stock

is completely

plain except

for

a

rather

crude

figure

5,

cut

into

the underneath

of

the

wood.

The

plain-

ness of

the

weapons suggests

that

they were for

military

service.

The

doghead, or arm, has a

moveable lower

jaw,

and

this

was adjusted

by

the

screw

so

that the

pyrites

was

gripped

firmly.

Overall

length

20-5

in.

Barrel

14

in.

Bore

-45

in.



PLATE

22 Fine

leather

holster

of

early seventeenth

century.

Inside

there is

considerable

wear

where

the lock

rubbed

as

the

pistol,

either

wheellock

or

flintlock,

was

drawn

and replaced

many times.

The

cap

which

normally

covered

the

top is missing.

A

pair

of these

holsters would

have

been carried,

one

on either side

of the

saddle.

Length

17-75

» •

Width

6-75

in.



PLATE

23

The

lock

of

a late

seventeenth-century

vvheellock

hunting

rifle.

Despite

the

intro-

duction of

the

flintlock

many

hunters

preferred the

vvheellock,

and

manufacture

continued

for

some

long

time.

The

lockplate

is

engraved

with a

classical scene

and

the

wheel

is situated

on the

inside

of

the

lock,

a

characteristic

of

many of these

later

weapons.



PLATE

24

Detail

ofthe

butt

show-

ing

a

fine,

horn

patch-box

cover

approximately

6 in. long.

Set in

the

walnut

stock is

an engraved

horn

inlay

showing

the

huntsman

with

his

hounds.

The

trigger

guard is

indented

to take

the

fingers.

In

front

of

the

normal

carved trigger

is

the

hair

trigger

adjusted

to

set

off

the

mechanism

at

a touch.



PLATE

26 Detached

wheellock of late

manu-

facture,

probably

eighteenth century.

The

entire

mechanism

is

fitted

behind the

plate.

There are

examples

of

wheellocks

being made as

late as the

nineteenth

century,

but

they

are

unusual.

Length

of

lock

65

in.

^•-:s:^.ia«5Si:.



PLATES

27

AND

28

(two

views)

Combination

tool

for

a

wheellock;

the

loop

is

for

attaching the

tool

to

a

carrying

thong.

The

shaped end

is a

screw-

driver

and

also

has a

square-cut

hole

which fits

over

the

spindle

to

span

the lock.

The

body

is

a

tube

which

slides

over

a

central

block;

the

size

of

the

container

can

be

adjusted

by

means

of

a

spring-

loaded

clip

mounted

on one

side.

This

container

also

served as

a

powder

measure.

Overall

length

(closed)

75

in.

Outside

diameter

of tube

4

in.

PLATE

29

Powder

flask

fashioned

from

a

section of

an

antler.

One

side is

still in

the

natural state,

but

the

opposite

side

has

been

roughly

engraved

with

a

man

and

woman

whose

bodies

form

part

of

a

quartered

shield. One

of

the

four

carrying

rings

is

missing.

Early

seventeenth

century.

Overall

length

9

in.

Nozzle 2-7

in.

long.



I

'^y.



PLATE

30

A similar powder flask

to

plate

29,

with brass mounts and

a

plunger charger

instead

of

the

cut-ofT.

Dated

1610,

though this

may

be

spurious. Length

7-5

in.



PLATE

31

An

unusually fine specimen of the

musketeer's large

powder

flask.

The

body

is

covered

with red velvet,

is pierced and has

gilded copper

fittings. The medallion in the centre bears the arms

of

the

Goldsmiths'

Company.

It dates

from

the

sixteenth

century.



PLATE

32

An

example

of

the

annular flask

with

bone inlay. Two carrying rings

are

fitted,

and the

pourer

is

of

ivory. The stopper is missing. Probably

German,

seventeenth

century. Diameter

of

flask

5

in.

PLATE

33

Another and

more

common

type

of

whccllock

key, serving only as a screwdriver

and

spanner.



PLATE

34

An

outstanding

Scottish, all-metal,

snap-

hauncc

pistol.

The

Scots had

certain idiosyncrasies

in their design of

pistols. Generally they

are all

metal

—

gilt

brass

is

common;

the

trigger

is

often

of

the ball

type

and

usually there is

no

trigger-guard.

A pricker for clearing the

touch-hole

usually

screws

to

the

pommel.

This

particular

pistol is en-

graved overall

with Celtic

patterns

and bears the

mark, l.G.

just below

the cock.

It dates from about

1625

and,

as

is common, is

fitted

with

a

long belt

hook.

Overall

length

17

in. Barrel

1

1-8

in.

Bore

-^

in.



PLATE

35

The

flintlock

mecha-

nism

soon displaced the

snap-

haunce, but in

Italy

pistols with

separate pan cover

and

steel

were

made

until

well

into

the

eigh-

teenth

century.

This

pistol is one

such, with all

furniture

—

trigger-

guard,

butt

cap,

ramrod

and

escutcheon

plate

—

made

of

steel.

The inside of the lock is signed

//

BrentO.

This

type

of weapon

originates

from

Central Italy.

Overall

length

8-6

in.

Barrel

length

4-7

in. Bore

-45

in.



PLATE

36

Another Italian

snap-

haunce,

one

of

a

pair,

probably

earlier than plate

35,

but

similar in

many

respects.

A

belt

hook

is

fitted.

Overall length

13-6 in.

Barrel

length

8-2

in.

Bore

45.



M'

PLATE

37

An English

flintlock

pistol

made

between

1650

and

1660,

by

J.

Tarles,

whose name

appears on

the lock.

The fluted

butt

cap

of

steel is fixed

to

the

butt by

means of

two screws.

The

barrel,

octagonal

at the

breech

and then

round, is

cut

with

8-

groove rifling.

To

load these

pistols

the

barrel

was

unscrewed

and powder and

shot

placed in

the

breech.

These

turn-off barrel,

rifled

pistols were

not

uncommon

and thereare

several

contemporary

references

to them.

Some have a

link between

the

barrel

and stock

as a precaution

against

the

loss

of

the barrel.

Overall

length

14-^

in.

Barrel

length

8-5

in.

Bore

-5

in.



PLATE

39

Flintlock

from

the time of

James

II. The

lock is rounder than

previously,

for

the lockplate

was

usually flat. The

brass

butt cap

is

plain

and

lacks

side

spurs. The

barrel

is

stepped and the tang

screw

passes

through the stock from

the

trigger-

guard. London

view and

proof

marks

are

stamped

on

the

left-hand side

of

the breech

—

a common

practice

with

British

gunmakers. Overall length

i8-2j

in.

Barrel length

ii-6

in.

Bore

-j^

in.-^

'n'^isrjif^.

'.r^:

PLATE

40

A

fine

pair of

double-barrelled flint-

locks

of

about

1

690.

The two

barrels,

one

above

the

other,

usually described as over and under, have

separate pans and frizzens. When the

pistol was

fully loaded and primed the

top

barrel

was dis-

charged first and then the small lever in front

of

the

trigger

guard

was

pressed. This released

the

barrels

and

the

lower one could

be

rotated

into a

position

ready for firing. Each pistol has a steel-tipped,

ebony

ramrod

housed at

the

side of

the

fluted

barrel.

A

short belt

hook

(25

in.)

is

fitted

to

each pistol.

Over-

all length

22

in.

Barrel length

14

in.

Bore

-45

in.



^w^-^w

PLATE

43

Top

—

late seventeenth

century

fusil,

or

small

musket. The lock plate is

flat

like

many

weapons of

the

period

and bears

the Royal

cipher,

W.R.,

below

a

crown. The

cock

is flat

and

is

cut with

a

notch

into

which

slips

a catch which then holds

the

cock

in a

locked

safe

position.

The

dog-lock

was

common

on English

weapons.

Barrel

length

465

in.

Bore

-79

in. Bottom

—

early

eighteenth-century

musket

similar

to

the

one above.

The

dog-lock

was

aban-

doned at about this time, and

by

1720

the

army

was

issued

with

a

normal flintlock. The

lock plate bears

the name

R. Wolldridge.

The furniture

—

trigger-

guard

etc.

—

is

often

nailed, rather than

screwed.

Barrel length

45-5

in. Bore

-79

in.



ft

PLATE

44

Pistol,

late

seventeenth

century,

from

the

famous

gun-

making town

of Brescia

in

north

Italy.

The

barrel

bears

the

signa-

ture

of

Lazarino Cominazzo, one

of the

most renowned of

all

barrel-makers.

His

name

was

so

highly

revered in the trade

and

outside

it that barrels

made

in

Belgium and

elsewhere

were frau-

dulently stamped

with his signa-

ture.

The barrel

is

octagonal

at

the

breech,

and the

tang screw enters

from

below. Overall

length

17-5

in.

Barrel length 12

in.

Bore

-5

in.

PLATE

45

Lock of

pistol in

plate

44.

The fine

chiselling can

be

seen

on

the

cock and steel

trigger-

guard.

This work was

characteristic

of

Brescian

firearms.

The signature

here

is

that

of Diomede

Barent.



PLATE

46

Fine,

silver-mounted

flintlock

holster

pistol

with

a

carved stock.

The lock

bears

the

name

of

I. Reed

and was made

about

1710.



PLATE

47

A finely marked

stock ofburr maple and

the plain

steel

furniture

make

this

a

rather

eye-

catching

piece.

The

ramrod

is

brass-tipped,

but

the

other

end

is

fitted

with

a

worm which

can

be

removed, revealing a screw. The barrel

is

fitted

with

a

gold-lined touch-hole. Gold is

a very inert

metal

and

was

well suited

to

resist

the chemical corrosion

produced

by

the

powder.

On

the

top of

the

barrel

is

the mark

of

Geronimo

Fernandez, a Spanish

gun-

maker who worked from about

1690

to

1720.

Overall

length

17-6

in. Barrel length

ii-2

in. Bore -68 in.

I



PLATE

48

Pocket

flintlock

pistol,

c.

1690,

by

John

Harman

of

Lon-

don.

There

is

no

trigger-guard

and

a

ball

trigger,

unusual

on

these

weapons,

is

fitted.

Another

un-

usual

feature

is

that

the

fore-end

unscrews

from

the

barrel.

Length

525

in.

Barrel 2-9

in.

Bore

1

in.



PLATE

49

One ofa

pair

of late seventeenth-century

pistols

by

W. Hawkes of Oxford. The

barrel

has

a

small

lug

underneath

and

over

this

fitted

a

barrel

wrench

togive

leverage

when

removing

or

replacing

the barrel.

The lock

plate,

as

is typical

of

early

weapons,

is convex not flat.

A safety catch

engages

with

a

notch

at

the

base of the cock.

Since

these

were

intended

to

be

breech-loaded,

no

ramrod is

attached

to

the pistol. The

butt is

embellished

with

silver-wire

inlay,

steel escutcheon and

butt

cap.

Overall

length

75

in. Barrel

375

in. Bore

4

in.



PLATE

50

Top

—

fine,

all-metal,

Scottish

flintlock

pistol of

c.

1700.

The

lock

is stamped

D.H.

Decorated

with

silver

leaf

and

rosettes

it

also has

brass

furni-

ture.

There is

another

pistol in

the

Glasgow

Museum

and

Art

Gallery

which

almost

certainly

makes up a

pair

with

this

one.

Overall

length

17

in.

Barrel

length

1

2-

25

in.

Bore

625

in.

Bottom—

an

outstanding

example

of

a

late

seventeenth-century

snaphaunce

Scottish

pistol.

The

pistol

has

no

restored

parts

at

all,

with

the

possible

exception

of

the

jaw

screw.

The

first

ramrod

pipe

has

been

worn

through,

per-

haps by

friction

in a

holster.

The

pistol

was,

at

one

time,

in

the

possession

of

the

family

of

Graeme

of

Garvock.

The

marriage

of

a

James

Graeme

of

Garvock

is

recorded

in

1678,

and

it

is

possible

that

this

pistol

originally

belonged

to

him.

The

lock

is

engraved

and

bears

the

name

of

I

O

Stuart.

The

weapon

is

inlaid

with

silver

bands, a

panel,

rosettes

and

scrolls.

Overall

length

1975

in.

Barrel

length

14-5

in.

Bore

625

in.



PLATE

51

Details of

locks of

two

pistols in

plate

50.



PLATE

52

Top

—

flintlock

holster pistol

by

Barbar

of

London.

The

mounts

are

steel, but

the masked butt

cap

is

silver. The

breech

of the

barrel bears

the name,

Barbar, in

gold,

but

is

slightly

unusual in that

it is

in

script

rather

than

block

letters;

it

is

possibly

a

copy

of

his

signature.

Overall

length

19

in. Barrel

length

12 in.

Middle

—

one

of

a

pair

of

flintlock

pistols

by

I.

Wilson

of

Dublin.

Furniture,

barrels

and

even lock

plates

are of

brass.

Overall length

185

in.

Barrel

length

II

in.

Bottom—

fine,

early

English pistol,

c.

1650,

by

Ralph

Venn.

The

flat of

the

barrel bears

the

crown and

R.V.

The

stock

is rosewood

and

all

mounts

are steel. The

lock

is attached to

the

stock by

two side

nails only. There is

a

catch

to

hold the

cock

in a

safe

position

—

common

feature

on

English pistols

of

this

period.

Overall length

17-25

in.

Barrel

length

10-625 in.



PLATE

54

Butt

and

lock

of

a

fine sporting

gun

by

Foulon

of

Paris.

The

barrel is richly

gilded

with

monsters'

heads,

etc.

Silver filigree

work decorates

the

full stock, and

the

lock

is

gilded

and chiselled,

as

are

the

mounts.

The

lock

is

dated

1723.

PLATE

53

Left

—

side

view of

Barbar

pistol

in

plate

52.

Middle

—

side

view

of

Wilson pistol

in

plate

52.

^

Right

—

side

view

of

the

D.H. pistol

in plate

50.



PLATE

55

Print

from

an

cightecnth-ccntury

military

hand-book,

showing

two movements

of the musket. The one on the

left

is closing

the

pan cover and the other,

rather

surprised-

looking soldier is

presenting, immcdiatelv

prior

to

firing.



PLATE

56

Superb

chiselled

lock

bearing

the

name

of

Johan

Stockl,

Ncustat.

The

lock

is on a

flintlock

fowling

piece, c.

1730.



H

V

:v..

.

-V

*'

'o;?:^/

PLATE

57

Barrel

of

the

fowling

piece in plate

56.

The barrel is

of

Turkish

manufacture (made

of

Damascus steel)

and is encrusted

with

silver

and

garnets (semi-

precious stones).

The

maker's

signature

is on a

gold

stamp

set

in the

barrel.

Overall

length

56

in.

Barrel length

41

in. Bore

-65 in.



PLATE

58

Powder

tester

of

late

seventeenth

century.

A

small quan-

tity

of powder

was

placed

in the

breech

and fired

with a

match.

The

force

of

the

explosion

rotated

the wheel,

and

the

number

(i

to

8)

which stopped

opposite

the

poin-

ter

gave

a

purely

comparative

reading

of strength.

The

grip is

of

walnut and

the rest

is brass.

Over-

all 6 in.

Diameter

of

wheel 1-4

in.



PLATE

59

Top—

one of a

pair of Brescia

pistols

from

the

second

halfof

the

seventeenth

century,

inscribed

Filtpiis

Spinodus

Fecit

JJhe

stock

is inlaid

with pierced

and

engraved steel and

brass;

the

trigger-guard

and

lock

are

chiselled.

Middle

—

an

unusual,

}-barrelled

flintlock

—

which was

hand-rotated.

The

mounts

are

engraved, and

the

lock

is

signed

Lorenzoni.

The

escutcheon

bears

the

arms

of

Cosimo De

Medici

who

was

Grand

Duke

of

Tuscany between

1670

and

1723.

Bottom—

a

mid-eighteenth

century

Italian

fowling piece

with the

lock

signed

Galvarino.

The whole

weapon is

beautifully

decorated

with

silver

and

gilt.



.L,

'\

PLATE 60

Top

—

fine

flintlock

fowling piece bearing

the arms

of

Saxony and

inscribed

Tanner

A

Gotha

1724.

Bottom—

another

fowling

piece,

with

gilt barrel

and mounts chiselled

from the workshops

of

J.

N.

Stockmar.

The

Stockmar

family

was

for

years

Court

Gunmakers

to

the Electors of Saxony.



m



PLATE

64

Dutch

pistol

from the

first

quarter of the

eighteenth

century,

with

brass furniture

including

a

rather unusual

brass

lock

plate. Inscribed on the

lower

edge

of

the

lock

plate

is

Christof

Wenner

Mastrich.

Overall length

17

in.

Barrel

107

in.

Bore

-6

in.



«#*-*j ̂ *«*v::.:

PLATE

65

Brass side plate from

one

of

a

jiair

of

pistols

from Liege;

they

date

from

the

first

quarter

of

the

eighteenth century.

Overall

length

19

in.

Barrel length

1225

in.

Bore

625

in.

K2



PLATE

68

Another

military

pistol, this

time

with

RoyalHorse

Guards

inscribed on the barrel

;

the

lock

is

stamped with

the royal cipher

and

Tower

1756.

It

will

be noted

that there

is only one ramrod

pipe

unlike

the

others on

the

page.

The

side plate is flat

and

there

is

a grotesque

mask

on

the

butt cap

most unusual for

military

pistols.

Overall length

of

the

gun 16-5 in.

Barrel

length 10 in.

Bore

-6

in.

PLATE

66

(top

left)

—

cavalry

pistol

from

the

first

quarter

of

the eighteenth century with

brass

butt

cap

and fittings;

it was made

by

I.

Johnson.

Overall

length of

the

gun

17-9

in. Barrel 11-7 in.

Bore

-6

in.

PLATE

67

Royal

Dragoon

pistol

;

the brass

butt cap

has

very

long

spurs.

On

the lock

is inscribed

the

crown over

G.R.,

the

maker's name,

R.

Edge

and

1730.

Overall length

19

in. Barrel 12

in. Bore

-6

in.



PLATE

70

A blunderbuss, or musketoon, with

brass

barrel and furniture,

dating from

about

1750.

The

blunderbuss

was

a

very popular

weapon

for self-

defence,

since

the dozen or so

balls

that

it

fired

reduced

the need for

aiming. This weapon is fitted

with

a

small sliding

bolt,

situated on

the lock

plate.

When the bolt is

pushed

forward

it engages

in

a

slot

at

the

rear of

the

cock

and locks the weapon

at

half-cock.

Overall length

355

in.

Barrel length

20

in.

Bore (at muzzle)

-9

in.

PLATE

69

Similar

to

plate

67,

but

this

time

the

maker

is Farmer and

the

date,

1744.

Overall length

of weapon 19-2

in. Barrel length i2 in.

Bore

-6

in.



PLATE

71

Holster

pistol

by

Shuter,

dated

1776

and bearing

the

East

India

Company mark.

The

cock is

now

flat-sided

unlike

pre-

vious

ones

which were

curved

in

section.

Overall

length

15-7

in.

Barrel

length

9-2

in.

Bore

-7 in.



PLATE

73

An attractive

military blunderbuss

pistol

with

a

brass

barrel, bearing the name,

Galton,

the

date,

1760

and the

Royal

Cipher. The

sideplate of

brass

is

quite

flat.

Overall length

12-5 in.

Barrel

length

6-8

in.

Bore

(at

muzzle)

115

in.

PLATES

74

AND

75

So-called Queen Anne

pistols:

^

although

many

were

made long

after

her reign,

these

date

from

around

1750.

The upper one is

by

T.

Richards.

Silver-wire

inlay

is

used

to

embellish

the

butt

as

well

as

a

silver side plate

and

grotesque

butt

cap.

Overall length

ii-8 in. Barrel length

4-8 in.

Bore

-6

in. The

lower

pistol is very

similar

to

the

first,

but

was

made

by

Covers

of

Dublin.

The butt

cap

and

escutcheon

are

of

silver

but

there

is

no

silver-wire inlay.

This pistol

has a

sliding trigger-

guard which

is

designed to

serve as a

safety-catch.

Overall

leui^th

12

in.

Barrel

length

5-

j

in.

Bore

-6

in.



z

^

^«-,..

,1

>

' . 1

A

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•:

._

^^

»t

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_

-.-

-

-T^jwfMB^^^^^^^^B

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gJlMt

w^^^^^^^^^^r^^

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^=.-».

)

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if

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S

^HMV'-

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1

<

1

1

PLATES

76

AND

77

Massive, double-barrelled

French pistol of

c.

1800. The

barrels

are mounted

side

by

side, each

with

a

separate lock

—

one

left-

hand and one right-hand.

The

butt

has no

butt cap

at

all

—

a

feature

common

in

pistols of

this

period.



The front portion ofthe trigger-guard

narrows

into

a

pillar

shape, this

design

being

more

common

on

French pistols. Overall

length

15

in.

Barrel

length

9

in. Bore

.7

in.



PLATE

78

A pocket pistol

with over and under

barrels.

This is

a

tap-action pistol;

the

barrel

to

be

fired

was

selected

by

turning

a

projection

on one side

of

the

breech.

The

two

barrels

were

loaded

and

primed; after

the

first was

fired the

pistol needed

to be

cocked

again, and

the

tap

turned

to

the second

position. There is

a

silver

butt

cap

bearing

assay

marks

for

1789.

The breech is

inscribed

on

one

side

Meredith

and on the

other

Chester,

both in script. Overall

length

85

in.

Barrel

26

in.

Bore

5

in.

PLATE 80

Rather

an

unusual, large, over and under holster

pistol,

probably dating

from the

second

half

of the

eighteenth century. The

butt

is of brass

with

engraved scroll

work.

Pans and

frizzen

are

secured

by an ornamental

strip which is

screwed

to

the

barrel.

It

seems

very likely

that

the weapon

originally

had

much longer barrels

and that these were shortened

during

its

working

life. The

lower

barrel

bears

a

partly

illegible

signature

impossible

to

reproduce.

Overall length

95

in. Barrel

48

in. Bore

65

in.

^^

PLATE

79

Another example

of

a

side-by-side

pistol.

The

locks

this

time

are

built

into one breech,

the whole

being

known as a

box lock.

Overall length

6-3 in. Barrel i-2 in. Bore

-35

in.



% ^^

^^>^-i

^r

r

^^^' nJ

f?r-.sg.-;

^

^'

t4t-

^*?r*-

**••,

^^

4.\

«^



PLATE

85

Detail

showing

silver

inlay

and

the butt

cap of

the

pistol in

plate

84.

Such

inlay

work

is very

typical

of

English weapons of

the

eighteenth

century.

The stud

for operating the slide

cut-offcan

be

seen

in

the

bottom

left-hand

corner of

the

illustration.

PLATE

86

Small

pocket pistol with

4

barrels,

bearing on one side

G.

Devillers,

and on the other

A

Liege.

A small

stud

releases

the

barrel block so

that,

as

the

top

barrels are discharged,

the

lower

two

can

be

turned

up into the

firing position.

A

double

safety-catch locks

both

cocks

by

engaging in notches

at the

rear.

Overall length of

pistol

6

in. Barrel

length

1-3 in.

Bore

-35

in.

-^



PLATES

87

AND 88

Pistol with a

detachable stock.

Many pistols,

and later

revolvers,

were made with

the

idea of

converting

them

into

carbines

for

cavalry use.

Here

the

stock

has

been cut

to

reduce

weight

and

the

ring

at

the

side

enabled

the user

to

sling the

weapon when on

horseback. The stock and

pistol

were

both made

by

Egg. The barrel

is blued.

The

stock

engages

in

a

slot

cut

into

the back

of

the

butt

and

is locked

into

place

by

means

of

a

spring

clip operated by

the projection

below

the

stock.

Pistol

—

overall length

15

in.

Barrel length

9

in.

Bore

•6

in.

Stock

10-5 in.



PLATE

91

Large

blunderbuss

pistol

by P. Bond,

about

1790.

The

butt

is

not

rounded

but

flat,

or slab-sided.

Although

the

barrel

is

brass

the

trigger-guard

is

of steel.

On

one side

of

the

breech is

the

maker's

name and

on

the

other side is his

address

—

45,

Cornhill,

London.

Philip

Bond

was

one

of

a family

of

gunmakers

which

produced

pistols

over a long period.

A

sliding

safety-catch is

missing

from

the

top of

the

breech.

Overall

length

125

in. Barrel

length

72

in.

Bore

at

muzzle

-9

in.

PLATE

89

Top

left

—military

pistol

fitted with

a

patent Nock

lock,

c.

1795.

This

type

of

lock, invented

by Henry

Nock,

a prominent

London

gunmaker,

was

completely

enclosed

and

had

only

one

screw

in

the

whole

construction.

It

was

easily

dismantled.

This

pistol

is unusual

because of its very

large

bore.

Overall

length

15

in.

Barrel

length

8

in.

Bore

-8

in.

^

PLATE

90

Sea-service

flintlock,

the stock

is

stamped with

the

date,

1803.

The

trigger-guard,

butt

cap and ramrod

pipes are

all

of

brass.

These

pistols

were

usually fitted

with

long

belt

hooks.

Overall

length

i9'75 in.

Barrel length

i2 in.

Bore

-6

in.



d PLATE

92

Steel-barrelled

blunderbuss which

has

had

an interesting

existence.

The weapon was

made

originally

by

I.

Gill for

government

service,

for

it

bears the Tower mark and

G.R. with

a crown. At

some

time

it

passed into

native

hands,

for the

weapon

is

now

decorated

with

steel-headed

nails

hammered

in

the stock.

Some

native charac-

ters

are

inscribed

on the barrel with

a passable

imitation

of

the

East

India

Company's

mark.

Most

unusual

is

the

inscription,

presumably

the reverse

of

TOW(ER)

1790.

Overall

length

2875

in.

Barrel

18 in.

Bore

1-6

in.

at

muzzle.

PLATE

93

Details

of

plate

92

showing marks

on

the barrel

and

some

of the hammered

nail

decoration. The

East India Company

sign differs

from the

usual mark

onlv

in

that

it

has I.I. instead

of E.I.

-^



PLATES

94

AND

95

Brass-barrelled blunderbuss

with

a

spring bayonet mounted on

top.

The bayonet

is

held

down

by

a

catch

above

the

breech.

When

the

catch

is released

the

bayonet flies

forward

and

locks

into

position.

This

spring-bayonet

system

was patented in

1781

by

John

Waters

although the

idea

was

not

new. The lock

plate is marked

Wiggin

&

Co.

Overall length

27

in. Barrel 1

1-75

in.

Bore 1-5

in.

at

muzzle.

Bayonet 10

in.



PLATE

96

Brass-barrelled

pistol

with

a

spring

bayonet. Here

the

bayonet is fixed

beneath the

barrel

(unlike

the

blunderbuss) and

is held in

posi-

tion

by the

trigger-guard.

When this is

pushed

back

the

bayonet springs

forward

into

position.

A

top

safety-catch locks cock

and

pan

cover.

Made

by

Twigg of

London,

c.

1780.

Overall

length

8

in.

Barrel

length

j

in.

Bore

-45

in.

Bavonet

35

in.



PLATE

98

Duelling

pistol,

one of

a

pair

by

R.

Clarke

of

London. The butt is cross-hatched (i.e.

incised with

a series

of

criss-cross lines)

to

afford

a

more secure grip. On

the

top

plane

of the octagonal

barrel is

No. 62

Cheapside,

London.

As

with

the Key

pistol (plate

99)

there is

a

set

trigger.

Overall

length

14

in.

Barrel

length

9-2

in.

Bore

-65

in.

PLATE

99

Duelling

pistol,

c.

1800, by

A.

Key of St.

Andrews.

The maker's name

is

set

in

a

small

gold

panel

on

the

top

of

the

barrel. The

pistol

is half-

stocked,

i.e. the

wood

does not

extend

the

full

length of the

barrel. The

trigger is

a set

one (see

above), whereby

the

pull

can

be

adjusted

by

the

screw

set

just

in

front

of

the

trigger.

All

furniture

is

blued

as

is

the

barrel. Overall length

14

in.

Barrel

length

8-1

in.

Bore

-6

in.

PLATE

100 Large-bore pistol

by

H.

Nock.

This

pistol

has

a

false

breech

where the barrel

terminates

in

a

hook-shaped projection

which engages

with

a

metal

plate

affixed to

the

stock.

To

remove

the

barrel

a

wedge

near the

front of

the

stock

is

pushed

out

and

the

barrel is then lifted

up,

disengaging

the

hook

and

so freeing it

from the stock.

The

touch-

hole

is platinum-lined.

Overall

length 10-5

in.

Barrel

length

5-9

in. Bore

-8

in.

8.A.

M



PLATE

loi One of

a

fine pair

of

duelling

pistols

of

around

1815

by

the very famous London gunmaker,

Joseph

Manton. The

pistol

is

half-stocked

with

a

horn

fore-end.

The

browned

barrel is

ribbed

underneath, with

two

ramrod

pipes

fitted.

Touch-hole

and

panel

bearing the

maker's name are

both

of platinum.

The

frizzen

spring

is

fitted with

a

cam which engages

a roller on

the

frizzen

itself.

To en-

sure an

accurate shot these

fine-quality

pistols were

fitted with

very

thick

and heavy

barrels

and

this

pistol is

heavier

than similar

pistols

of the

period. Manton went

bankrupt

in

1826.

Overall

length

15

in.

Barrel 10 in.

Bore

5

in.

PLATE

102

All-metal

pocket pistol

of the

mid-eighteenth

century

by

H.

Devillers

of Liege. The

butt

is ofsilver

and

there

is

no

trigger-guard.

Overall length

57

in.

Barrel

1-9

in.

Bore

'4.

in.



PLATE

103

All-steel,

Scottish

pistol.

Despite

the

later

date

—

early

ninteenth

century

—

this

pistol

still

exhibits

many

characteristics

of

earlier

types,

such

as

the

ball

trigger

and

the

lack

of

a

trigger-

guard.

The

butt

is

of

the

ramshorn

type

with the

screw-in

pricker

set

between

the

inward

curves.

The

lock

is

engraved

with

the

name,

Macleod.

The

barrel

is

Birmingham

proofed.

A

4

in. belt

hook

is

fitted

on

the

side

of the

pistol.

Overall

length

12

in.

Barrel

7-4

in.

Bore -7

in.

4



PLATE

104

Although

the

shape

suggests

a

Belgian

pistol, this one was

made

by

Shuter

for

the

East

India Company.

The lock bears

the

maker's

name,

the mark

of

the

Company

and

the

date,

1776.

Overall length

1^-7

in.

Barrel 9-2 in.

Bore

7

in.

'i^.xm^^



^

PLATE

105

One

of

a

pair of silver-mounted holster

pistols

by

Stanton of Holborn, London. Although

this

pistol was made

at

approximately

the

same time

as that

of

plate

104

the

difference is obvious.

Over-

ail

length

13-75

i '

Barrel

length

7-75

in.

Bore

-65

in.



PLATE

107

Spanish

pistol

of mid-eighteenth

cen-

tury with

typical

miquelet

lock. In

this

type

ot

lock

the

mainspring

is

mounted

on

the outside and

the

sear

operates

through

the

lock

plate. Brass and

silver

are

used

to

decorate this

pistol, and

a

long

belt hook

is

fitted.

The

barrel is

octagonal

at

the

breech

and

bears

the

mark

of

Pedro

Esteva.

Overall

length

10-7 in. Barrel

length

6-j in. Bore

-7

in.

^'

PLATE

106

French

holster

pistol

ofthe

mid-eighteenth century. The

stock

has some carving

and

is fitted

with

a

small

butt cap

which has

a

short spur

at the rear. The

slightly

convex lock plate

bears

the

in-

scription,

A

St.

Etienne.

Theramrod

has

a

horn

tip.

Overall

length

of weapon

13.7s

* •

Bore

-68

in.



PLATE 1

08

Barrel of the

pistol

in

plate

107.

Gold inlay is

set

into

a

browned

barrel.

Around

the

fore-

sight

is

a

sunburst then

a

light-

ning

flash.

The

word,

Tordu,

inlaid

round

the

barrel,

refers

to a

method

of construction

using

twisted

metal. Below

the

rings or balusters

appears a trophy

of arms.



PLATE

109

Large Continental

holster pistol

fitted

with

a

left-hand

lock.

Occasionally

pairs

of

pistols

were

made

with left

and

right-hand

locks

and

this

is

the

left-hander of

such a

pair.

Brass fittings are used,

including

a

strip

at

the

fore-end. On

the

trigger-

guard

is

deeply

engraved

Zes No.

33.

Originally,

there

was

probably

a

D-ring attached to

the

bar

at

the

pommel. Overall

length

18 in.

Barrel length

10-7 in.

Bore

-8

in.



'i(i



PLATE

no

An unusual

set containing

2

pocket

pistols

and

2

holster

pistols. Each

pistol

has the

initials,

T.A.,

on

the silver

escutcheon.

Also in

the

case

is a red

leather

wallet

containing

a series

of

flints

and

a

pair of

bullet

tweezers.

The

two pocket

pistols

are marked

Stokes and

Co.,

and the

two hol-

ster

pistols

Stokes andHunt.

Pocket pistols: overall

length

6-5

in.

Bore

-5

in.

Holster pistols:

overall

length

14

in.

Barrel

length

9

in.

Bore

-6

in.

PLATE III A

small

hand weapon for

discharging

grenades. The

weapon

was loaded

in the

normal

way

and

a

grenade,

instead of

a ball, placed

in

the

barrel. The barrel

is of

brass

and 2 in. in

diameter.

The

lock

bears

the

name,

Jourson,

and

almost cer-

tainly dates from the

mid-eighteenth

century.

'^



PLATE

1

12

A

group

of

three

rifles

made

by

Tatham

of

London.

They

are

of good quality and

traditionally

were

made

for

presentation to

Red

Indian

Chiefs. There are some

28

of them; the

majority

have

stags

engraved on

the

patch-box

cover. Barrel lengths are

29-5

in.,

and they all

have

lo-groove

rifling. Bore of each one is

-59

in.



PLATE

114

Powder horn

with

an

engraved

scene

depicting

the

with-

drawal

of

the

British

forces

from

Havana in

1763

when

Cuba was

returned

to

Spain.

The arms

of

a

member of

the

Peyton

family are

also engraved on

the

horn.

PLATE 116 Rifle made

by D. Egg

of London,

c.

1780.

The

weapon

is

breech-loading using

the system

patented

by

Captain Patrick

Fergu-

son in

1776.

The

trigger

guard

was

rotated,

so

unscrewing

a

plug

at

the

breech, allowing

powder

and

ball

to be

inserted.

PLATE

115

Powder horn

for use

by

gunners.

The

brass

tip

has

a

simple spring-operated

cut-oflf.

The sling is

a

modern

restoration.

Overall

length of

horn

13

in.



PLATE

117

A

revolving-cylinder

shotgun

made

by

Collier,

c.

1825.

The

five-shot

cylinder

w^as

rotated

by

hand.

Overall

length

465

in.

Barrel

27

in.

r.w>«v*>SBSK«iwi»SMwa'



PLATE

ii8 Silver-mounted,

flint-

lock holster pistol. Basically

it is a

mid-eighteenth century pistol

which

has

been

embellished

with

silver wire and

panels

ofembossed

silver, and

has

had

a

silver

trigger-

guard

substituted. There is

a

simulated

ramrod

replacing

the

original one.

The

decoration

sug-

gests

a

Turkish origin. Overall

20

in. Barrel

13-7

in.

Bore

-6

in.

S.A.



i^^

PLATE

119

Unique

combination

weapon

comprising

two

flintlock

pistols

and

a

dagger,

which

have

been

fitted

to

an

arm

piece. The

knife

is

spring-operated

rather like

those

fitted

to

the

weapons

shown in

plates

95

and

96.

The pistols

were

made

in

India.

Length of

barrels

2-4

in.

Bore

4

in.

Length

of

blade

8-5

in.



^-^a^MJ^:

sX7

PLATE

120

Superb

pair

of

early

nineteenth-century

Turkish

flint-

locks. The

lock

plate and

barrel

are

blued

and

encrusted with

gold

foliage whilst

the touch-hole

and

pan are

lined

with

gold.

Sumptuous

silver-wire inlay,

scrolls

and

foliage,

decorate

the

walnut

stock.

All

the

silver-gilt furniture is

chiselled in

the

shape

of acanthus

foliage.

The escutcheon bears

the

name

of

Hamadan

Ibrahim.

Overall

length

20-1

in.

Barrel

length

129

in.

Bore

-6

in.

N2



PLATE

121 Afghan

stocked

gun. The

barrel is

ridged

for

the

greater

part of its

length and

is

of

outstanding

quality.

The muzzle and

breech

are

decorated

with

gold,

including

the

owner's

name.

The

stock

is

of ebony.

The

barrel

is

rifled

—

8

grooves.

Overall length

6o-6

in.

Barrel

length

43-75

in.

Bore

5

in.



PLATE

122

Top

—

Turkish gun of

the

eighteenth

century with

a

typical

lock

and circular

butt.

The

barrel

is rifled

—

8

grooves.

Overall

length

535

in. Barrel

length

41

in.

Bore

52

in.

Bottom

left

—

similar.

Overall

length

2875

in. Barrel 186

in.

Bore

-52

in. Bottom right

—

cartridge

case: tubes

of

ebony tipped

with

ivory.

m^

iiii

litiiiiiii^'



PLATE

12}

Top—

one of

a

pair of flintlocks, probably

North African.

The

wooden

stock

is

overlaid

with

plaques

of

metal

gilt.

Overall

length

1975

in.

Barrel length

12-3^

in.

Bore

-6

in.

Bottom

—flintlock

pistol from

the

Caucasus,

dated

1788

on the

barrel. The strongly

curved

stock

is of mahogany

and

is

decorated overall with

silver-

headed

rivets

as

well

as

plaques of

silver with

niello

decoration.

The

barrel

is

inscribed

Bortolo

Comiiiazzi-

Overall length 18-25

in. Barrel

length 12-5

in.

Bore

-6

in.

PLATE

1

24

left

—

Turkish

or

Circassian

gun from the early

nineteenth-

century.

The

stock

is decorated

with embroidered cloth, and

there

is

silver

decoration

on

the barrel

bands

and

lock. Three large

tassels,

silver mounted,

arc fixed near

the

trigger.

Middle—

eighteenth-century

Persian

rifle. The

barrel,

with

9-groove

rifling, is octagonal

and fitted

with

a

peep

back-sight.

Overall length

455

in.

Barrel

31

75

in. Calibre

•6

in. Riijht

—Turkish

gun

from the

nineteenth-century.

The

stock

is

decorated with

velvet.

The

barrel

appears

to

be

European

and

bears

an armourer's

mark. Overall length

59-7

in. Barrel

448

in.

Calibre

62

in.



PLATE

125

This

fire-carriage

is a

mid-eighteenth

century

forerunner

of the machine-gun.

Each

set of

barrels

(15

per

set)

was fired

simultaneously

by

separate

locks.

The

barrels

are

London

proof

and

are octagonal for approximately one

third

of

their



length.

After

firing it took

just about four minutes

to

re-load the weapon. The plates

are

mostly

of

brass

as

is

the

frame. The unit

has been mounted on

a

carefully

reconstructed

carriage.

King

Edward VII

presented

the

firing

unit

to

the

Royal United

Services

Museum,

Whitehall.



THE

PERCUSSION LOCK

The

internal

mechanism of the

percussion lock is the

same as

the

flintlock with half-

and full-cock

positions. This fact

enabled

easy

conversions to

be

made from the

flintlock

system to the

cap

lock.

The

simple

copper

cap

offered

much

greater

reliability

-

in one

test, one

misfire in

sixteen

shots

compared

with

one

in

six

using

the

flintlock. Moreover,

priming

was no longer

necessary,

for the first flash

directly

ignited the

main charge.

Percussion

locks were in

vogue at the same

time as

mechanisa-

tion

was becoming

commonplace,

and

the

variety

of

uses

to

which the

system was put

was enormous.

Percussion

locks

were

fitted to weapons

varying from

tiny

pocket-pistols to

cannon.

Repeating

weapons

became

a

feasible

idea

and

started the

era

of

the

revolver. Lar^e

numbers

of all

types

were

produced

and

each claimed some

intrinsic

advantage. At

the same

time

rifles

became

much more common,

and

armies all

over

the

world were

equipped with

percussion

rifles.

Basically

the lock

remained

unaltered

throughout

its

working

life

of

some

fifty

years, and

there

is little

to

distinguish a per-

cussion lock

of

1830

from

one

of

1870.

The

percussion cap was

soon

incorporated into

the

cartridge,

and although

many

systems

were developed

it was the

centre

fire that

proved the most

successful.

Here the

cap

was set

in

the

centre

of

the

base

of

a

metal-cased

cartridge.

This is still

the

system in use

today.

PLATE 126

Double-barrelled

fowling

piece,

c.

1820. The two

locks

are

fitted with

swivel,

Forsyth

scent-bottle

primers. These

containers

held a

small

amount

of

fulminating

powder and

were rotated

to

allow

a

small

quantity

to

enter

the priming

section.

The

hammer

struck the

small

plunger

which,

in

turn,

detonated

the

fulminate.

Smith,

the

maker's

name,

appears

on

the

lock.

Overall

length

46

in. Barrel

length

]o

in.

Bore -65

in.

202



.

\^



>m i

-r

iit

wSi5

k



PLATE

129

Half-stocked, 8-bore fowling piece

by Samuel Nock

of

Regent

Circus.

In

this

type of lock

the

fulminating

powder

was

made

up into

small

pellets. Overall

length

50

in. Barrel

length

33

in.

PLATE

127

Top

left

—

a

tube lock

by

John

Cox,

7,

Bernard

Street,

Southampton. This

fowling

piece is mounted in

silver which

bears

Birmingham hallmarks

for

1847.

The weapon is

supplied with

an

ii-bore fowling barrel

and a hexagonal

rifle

barrel of

-577

calibre.

The lock is

fitted

with

a

set

trigger.

A

pistol

grip

is

fitted

to

the

half

stock.

Overall length

49

in.

Barrel

length

32

in.

PLATE

128

Fowling

piece

by Geo.

Fuller,

104,

Wardour

Street,

Soho,

c. 1820. The 8-bore barrel is

octagonal at the breech,

changing

to

circular.

On

this

weapon the

fulminating

powder

was

contained in

small

copper

tubes

which were placed in

the

hole

with

one end

facing

the touch-hole; the

hammer

crushed

the

tube, thus

exploding

the

fulminate.

Overall

length

50

in.

Barrel

length

35

in.



PLATE

I

30

When

the

percussion

cap

was produced

in the

1820's

many

owners

had weapons

converted

from

flint to take

the

new

cap.

In this

eighteenth-

century

pocket

pistol the

steel

has

been removed

and a

ni|)|)le

inserted, and a

large hammer

has

replaced

the cock. The j>istol

is

marked

with

T.

Jackson,

Maidstone.

0>erall length

79

in. Barrel

length

2-3

in.

Bore

45

in.



PLATE

i}i Another

type of

conversion

to a duel-

ling pistol

by

Diirs

Egg.

The

touch-hole

has

been

drilled

out and

a

pillar

inserted,

into which

is

screwed

a

nipple.

The

cock,

frizzen

and spring

have

been

removed

from

the lock

and

all

screw-holes

filled

in. The

pistol is

a duelling

pistol with

a

set

trigger. Overall

length

13

in. Barrel

8

in.

Bore

-5

in.



PLATE I

36

Norwegian

rifled

pis-

tol

;

an

1

83

1

model,

converted to

percussion

in

1846.

This pistol

has

several

interesting

features.

The

barrel

bears

English proof

marks

and

has

shallow,

4-groove

rifling.

The

hammer is

fitted

with

a

catch

which engages

in

a

notch at

the

rear

—

a

feature

of

English

seven-

teenth-century

weapons.

The

tang

screw also

goes

through

the

stock

from

the

trigger-guard.

The

butt

was

originally

cut

to

take a

stock,

but

this

has

been

filled in. Like

many

Continental

weapons,

es-

pecially

military

ones,

the

barrel

is

secured by

a

nose cap

fitting over

the

barrel and

stock,

held in

place

by

a

spring

clip.

Overall

length

165

in.

Barrel

99

in.



PLATE

137

Large

percussion

pistol

by

Joseph

Wil-

son

of

Birmingham.

The lock bears

a crown over the

letter,

EIG

and

the

date,

1871

—

a

very

late

date.

It

is

not

rifled,

but

is

fitted

with

sights.

Overall length

14

in.

Barrel

length

8 in. Bore

65

in.



PLATE I

j8

Double-barrelled

percussion

pistol

with

swivel

ramrod.

The butt

is fitted

with a

small

compartment

for

holding

percussion

caps.

On

the

strap

joining the

barrels

is

engraved

John

BUssett,

321

Hiah

Holborn,

London.

Overall

length

8

in.

Barrel

38

in.

Bore

45

in.



PLATE

139

All-metal,

saw-handled pistol,

c.

1850.

The

octagonal

barrel is

browned whilst the

hammer is

blued. A

small

cap-box

is

situated in

the

base

of the butt. The barrel bears

Birmingham proof

marks,

the

only

ones on the

pistol.

Floral

engraving embellishes

the

butt. Overall

length

8-3

in.

Barrel

35

in. Bore -5

in.



PLATE

140

One

of

a

pair

of

percussion

pocket

pistols

with

blued,

fluted

barrels.

The

hatched

butt

has

a diamond-

shaped

escutcheon.

There is

a

top

safety

catch,

and the

breech

is

inscribed

Manton

and

London.

There

is

a

concealed

trigger.

Overall

length

62 in.

Barrel

2

in.

Bore

-6

in.



PLATE

141

Pepperbox

revolver;

the

cylinder block

is drilled for six

shots. The nipples are guarded

by

a

shield which

encircles them all

except for the topmost

under

the

hammer. The

German

silver

body

is

marked

Colson

and

Stowmarket.

The

top

safety-catch

engages

in

the

slot of

the

hammer bar.

Length

8-

1

in.

Barrel 6

in.

Bore

-4

in.



PLATE

143

Transition revolver.

In

effect

it

is

a

truncated

pepper-

box

with the

barrel

fitted.

This

type

was produced

in quantity,

especially in

Birmingham,

in the

mid-nineteenth

century. Many

have

rifled

barrels. Overall length 11-7

in. Barrel

5-5

in.

Bore

-45

in.



PLATE

144

Transition revolver. The

design

is

an

improvement on

the

one

in plate

143

—the

barrel is fitted

a

little

more securely, and it has

a reasonable

hammer. The cylinder

reciprocates

as

the

revolver is

fired, i.e. it

moves forward

slightly

to

ensure

a good

fit against the

barrel.

The

barrel itself

has

both

rear-

and fore-sights and

also

16-

groove

rifling;

it

is

marked

Mortimer

London.

Overall

length

1

15

in.

Barrel

length

j

in. Bore

-45

in.



PLATE

146

The

Colt Navy model of 1

851.

—One

of

the

most

popular of Colt's

percussion revolvers.

A

six-shot weapon with

a

high reputation for

accuracy

and

reliability.

The revolver

was

manufactured in

the

U.S.A.

and

England.

The

cylinder

was

loaded

and

the

bullet,

conical

or round,

was

pressed home

by

the loading

lever

fitted

beneath

the

barrel.

This

particular model is inscribed

on the

barrel

Address

Col.

Colt

London,

and each

part bears the

number

1

51

54.

The cylinder is engraved with

a

sea-battle

scene.

The

lanyard

ring

at

the

base

of

the

butt

is

a

little

unusual. Barrel length

7-5

in.

Bore

36

in.

PLATE

145

Heavy Colt of

the

type

known

as

the

Hartford

English

Dragoon.

Some

700

of

these

weapons

were

made in Hartford for sale in England

around

1853.

This

weapon

bears

English

proof

marks and

the cylinder is

engraved with

Indians

fighting soldiers. Barrel

length

7-5

in.

-44

calibre.



148

New Model pocket

made

by

Colt

in

London

was

5-shot weapon.

The cylinder is

with

a

scene

of

a

stage-

hold-up.

This

model

was

from 1

861-1872,

serial num-

1

7

179.

Barrel length 6-5 in.

-136 in.

147

Revolver patented in

by Robert Adams

in

1851.

revolvers

were

cocked

and

by

pressure on the trigger

and

not require cocking manually

did the Colts).

This

particular

has

had

the

grip

replaced

its life,

since the normal

has cross hatching and

a

metal

It was used on

escort duty

for

of

gold on

the

West

oast of New

Zealand

during

the

i860

to

1870.



i?^

-

^:-.-'f,Jlg'Ka.?-

, *'

g.-..^

PLATE

149

Five-shot, self-cocking,

54-bore

revolver

by

Robert

Adams

—the second

model

of

1853.

Like many English revolvers it is

only a

five-shot

weapon. The barrel, which has been considerably

shortened, is marked

Deane Adams

&

Deane {Makers

to

H.R.H.

Prince

Albert)

30

King

William St.

The serial

number

of

the weapon

is

8608. The revolver is cased

and complete

with all

its various

acces-

sories.



PLATE

150

Deane

Adams, 5-shot

revolver,

c.

1855.

Unlike plate

149

it

could

be cocked

by

the

thumb

or

by

pressure

on

the

trigger. This

one

is Birmingham

made; others,

differing

slightly,

were

made

in

London.



Ma

^

PLATE

151

lop—double-action, j-shot,

54-bore

revolver

by Daw,

serial

number

1270.

Engraved

on

the

top strap is

Alex

R. Henry Edinburgh.

MiJJk

—

another

double-action,

5-shot, 54-bore

revolver

by

Daw;

on

the

top

strap

is

engraved

A.

Henry

Edinburgh.

Bottom

—

self-cocking,

6-shot revolver

by

Daw,

but

this

time

with

the very unusual calibre

of

-28.

This

revolver has

7-groove

shallow

rifling,

unlike

the other two which have five grooves

only.

t



PLATE

152

Dual-system (No.

855-)

6-shot,

120-bore

Webley.

Cased with accessories

and alternate

per-

cussion cylinder.

On the

top strap

and

case

label

is

engraved

W.

&

J.

Kavanagh,

Dame

Street, Dublin.

Webley's

Patent is stamped

on

the

right

side

of

the barrel.

There is

a Kerr-type

rammer

on

the

left,

as well as

a

loading

gate and ejector

for

use with

cartridges.



»>

<

'mmiz-*

PLATE

153

Top

—

revolver

from

plate

152;

a

view of the other side,

showing

the

rammer

on

the

side of

the

barrel, and

the

ejector

under

it. Bottom—Beaumont-Adams

revolver

made under

licence

by

C.

Dandoy

of

Liege. It

has a

7

mm.

(-276)

calibre.

The makers

name

is

in

gold

on

the

top

strap. The weapon

has

a

chiselled-silver

butt cap,

and

the

silver trigger-guard

is chased with

a

hunting

scene. The

frame

and

cylinder

are

lined out

and

engraved

with

stags and trees.

PLATE

154

Webley,

first model, percussion

revolver,

patented

1853;

it has

a

detachable

loading

lever and

all

the

accessories

sold with

the

gun;

these include

a

typical

bullet

mould,

a

cleaning rod,

screw-

driver,

nipple

key,

powder flask

and

metal oil

bottle.

^



smiM^S^



PLATE

1

55

Cased, double-trigger,

Tranter

revolver.

The

mahogany

case

is lined

with

green

baize

and

retains all the

original tins and

other accessories.

Inside the

lid is the trade label

of Stephen

Grant.

PLATE

156

The

Tranter

double-trigger,

five-shot

revolver.

This

weapon

was

cocked

by

pressing

the

lower

trigger

and fired

by

pressing

the

upper

trigger. Thus

the

weapon

could

be

held

in

the

cocked

position indefinitely

until ready

to

fire. The

loading lever is

mounted

at

the

side of the

barrel

and the

double-armed

spring

at

the

side

is

a

safety

device

which holds

the

hammer

clear

of

the

nipples.

The

octagonal barrel is six

inches long

and

has

five-groove

rifling.



PLATE

157

Left

—military

percus-

sion

musket

of

1

839.

Overall

length

47

in.

Barrel

length

39

in.

Bore

•753

in. Right

—

sealed

pattern of

1842;

the

dimensions are the

same

as

above,

but

the

lock differs.

PLATE

158

Percussion

knife-pis-

tol and

sheath.

Many of these

com-

bination

weapons

were

made

with

pistols

fitted into

purses, knives

and knuckle

dusters.

This

is

probably

French,

from

about i860.



PLATE

159

A

double-purpose weapon

usually

known

as a

Le

Mat

revolver.

Basically

it is

a

percussion revolver

with

nine

chambers,

but

beneath

the normal

barrel

is

fitted a second

smooth-bore

barrel.

This

was

loaded

with buckshot

and

was

fired

by

setting

the

adjustable

nose of

the

hammer.

This revolver and many others like it

were

used

quite

extensively

by

the Southern States

during

the

American Civil

War.

PLATE

160

Holster and belt for a

Navy

Colt. The

leather

belt

is

42

in.

long

with

a

brass hook to

secure the

loop

when

adjusting

for

waist

size.

On the end

which loopsback

to

shorten the

belt is stamped

Rock

Island

Arsenal

—

T.C.

The holster

is

made

to be

worn on the

right,

and

is held

on the belt by a

loop

secured

at

the

top

and bottom by

copper

rivets. There is no

top

flap,

but

the

top

has been

cut

on

the

curve.

Wear

from

long

use

is very apparent.

^



m

PLATES i6i

AND

162

Interesting

superimposed,

i2-bore,

double-

barrelled

shotgun.

It

was made in

Amiens and

was presented

to a

Maori chief

by

the

New

Zea-

land Governor, Sir George

Gray,

in

1853.

The

two loads were in-

serted

and

the

forward

ones

fired first. The

wadding

was

sufficient

to

prevent a flashback

fir'ng

the rear

charge.



PLATE

163

Underhammer

rifles

by

Nicanor

Kendall

of

Windsor, Vermont,

U.S.A.

This maker was one of

the

first

to

produce

repeating

underhammer

guns.

These two weapons

are very

similar,

varying only in

size.

Top

—

overall

length

3

ft.

9

in.

Barrel length 2 ft.

4

in. Bore -j in. Bottom—

overall

length

3

ft.

6

in.

Barrel

length 2 ft.

4

in.

Bore -5

in.

PLATE

164

Group of

commonplace,

mid-nineteenth

century

accessories.

The powder flask is a

three-way

flask

in

that

it has

compartments

for

powder,

flints

and a

number

of bullets.

The bullet mould

has

the

built-in

cutter clearly

visible (just below

the rivet

head). The shot

measure

can

be

set for

five

different

amounts. The shot

charger

holds

two

charges

of

shot and

was

always

carried

full,

ready for

use.



d^'j^'itiHA

Wmm



V

^,Vr

;

^»'^y^^ ^^-;TT^g^*^'^^^5^^^:^y

^y^^

'

^

' 'f-^'J. 'a^ ^J

'/

'J.' ' *f^fA A^A' >A



PLATE

167

Mainspring

clamp and

tool

{left).

The

clamp

used

to compress

the

main

allowing its

removal

from

lock.

A pricker,

nipple key,

oiling

probe and

are

all

contained

in

the

combination

tool

(bottom).

second

tool (top

centre) is

less

and

has

fewer

gadgets.

168

Top—

Paton

and

Walsh

combination

nipple-

enclosed

pricker

and

cap-

Centre

—a very small

capper

by

i'4 in. in

diameter.

Bottom

—

combined

capper

and nipple

by Gertner

—

today, an

rare

and

unusual

piece.



l^iv%

i-'-f^



PLATE

169

Top

left

—

rather

a

different

type

of capper from those

in

plate 168

by

Beetz. Bottom

left

—

small

brush

for

cleaning

revolvers, etc.

Centre

—

bar capper,

8-5

in.

long.

Top

right

—comparatively small

nipple

^

primer. Bottom right

—

ordinary

nipple cleaner.

PLATE

170

Patent waterproof

lock

by

Charles

Jones,

fitted

to a 13-

bore

shotgun.

The

internal

mechanism

was

arranged concentrically.

Overall

length of

the shotgun

46-5

in. Barrel

length

30

in.



PLATE

171.

Top

left

—

three

cartridge

pouches

from

India

—

nineteenth

century.

Top right

—three

cartridge

pouches

from

Turkey

—

nineteenth

century.

Centre

left

—Persian

powder

horn

of ivory

—nineteenth

century.

.



Centre

right

—

white-metal

bullet pouch

from

the

Caucasus.

Bottom

—

powder

flask

of

steel

with

a silk hanger

to

which is

attached a gold

inlaid ramrod; it is

of nineteenth-century

Persian

manufacture.



PLATE

172

Group

ol

combination

tools

of

various

types.

The

T-

shapcd one

at

the top

and

the

thrcc-armed

one at

the

bottom

are

almost

certainly

those

issued to

sergeants

for

use

with

the

Enfield

rifle.



PLATE

173

Lock

of

a

pinfire,

double-barrelled

rifle

by

James

Purdey,

a

famous

London

gun-

maker. Overall

length

46

in.

Barrel

30

in. Bore

-5

in.



Ind

ex

Collier,

E.

1

17

Colson

141

Colt, Samuel

28,

30,

49,

^7

Colt

weapons

68;

146,

160

(Navy

Model),

145

(Hartford

English

Dragoon),

148

(New

Model)

combination

tools

27-8,

167, 172

combination

weapons

119,

158

Cominazzi,

Bortolo

123

Cominazzo,

Lazarino

44

commission buyers

jj

conversions

28;

14,

130-2,

136

Cox,

John

127

craftsmen

(various)

34,

38

Dandoy,

C.

153

dating 22

Daw,

G.

151

dealers

jj,

57,

62

Deane,

Adams &

Deane

149,

150

decoration

20,

66,

73;

15, 23-5,

8j.

97,

108

Devillers,

G.

86

Devillers,

H.

102

Diderot, Denis

40-1

display

60-1

Dixon

4j

doghead

19,

20

dog-lock

43

duelling pistols

26-7;

98-9,

lOi,

East India

Company

71,

92, 93,

104

Edge,

R.

67

Egg,

Durs 81-2,

87,

116,

131

ejector

153

Enfield

rifle

39;

166,

172

engraving

66

eprouvette

46

Ertel

family

14

Esteva,

Pedro

107

Farmer

69

Ferguson,

Patrick

116

Fernandez,

Caspar

38

Fernandez,

Geronimo

47

'Filipus

Spinodus'

59

Firearms

Act

j8

fire-carriage

125

flint

21,27

flintlocks

22,

2f,

27-8,

58,

11^;

34-125

Forsyth,

Alexander

27;

126

Foulon

54

four-barrelled

pistol

86

fowling

pieces

57,

59,

60,

126,

128-30

France

2

2

French

weapons

54,

76-7,

106

frizzen

2 2

Fuller,

Geo.

128

fulminates

27,

31

;

128-9

tusil

(see also

musket)

43

Galton

73

German

weapons

12,

34,

44;

10,

13-4,

60,

132

Gertner 168

Ghevn,

Jacob

de

9, if

Gill,'

I.

92

gold inlay

108

Covers

75

Grant, Stephen

155

Great Exhibition of

iSji

30

grenade weapon

1 1

Grose,

Francis

9,

10

Gunmakers'

Company

33

gunpowder

(see

also

powder,

etc.)

1

gunsmiths

Ch.

2

hackbut

i

3

Hall,

I.

41,

42

^5}



Index

hammers

2

2,

28,

61

haiuli^uns

13-4,

32,

42

'hnn^tire'

27

Hardintj

34

Harman,

John

48

Hawkes,

W.

49

Havvkslev

4f

Henry,

Alex R.

151

holsters

48-9; 22,

160

holster

pistols

71,

80,

105,

109-10,

118

hookfiun

I

3

horsemen

49

hunting

weapons

(see also fowling

piece),

20-1

(wheellocks),

2f,

41,

96;

23-s

Ibrahim,

Hamadan

i2o

hidia

Pattern

24

Indian weapons

17,

86; 6,

8,

9,

171

Italy

14

Jackson,

T.

130

Japanese

weapons

17,

24;

5,

7

Johnson, I.

66

Joiner,

J.

84

Jones,

Charles

170

Jourson

1

1

Kavanagh,

W.

&

J.

152

Kendall,

Nicanor

163

Key, A.

99

knights

1

1-3

Krugi^,

Anton

13

Kuchenreuter,

J.

Christoph

132

left-hand

locks

109

Le Mat

revolver

159

Liege

34;

65

Lithuanian weapons

15

loading

i^^,

20-1,

28,

48

London

30,

33-4,

37

Lorenzoni

59

Macleod

103

makers' marks 66

Manton,

John

and

Joseph

jacket,

loi,

140

Mastrich, Christor Wenner

64

matchlocks

14-8,

24,

86;

1-9

Meredith

78

Miles,

H.

47,

S7

military

pistols

67-8,

72,

89,

134

miquelet

lock

24,

iif;

107

Monck,

T.

J4

Mortimer, H.

144

museums

64

musketeers

15-6,

42,

4j

musketoon

(see

also

blunderbuss)

70

muskets

17

;

113,

157

Muslims

(see

also

North African) 1

muzzle-loaders

48

Napier,

David

46

Navy Colt

146,

160

nipple

(see

also accessories)

50

(gauge),

i>

(guards);

8

(pricker),

141,

168

(primers)

Nock,

Henry 25^,

27,

39;

89,

97,

100

Nock,

Samuel

129,

133

North

African weapons

22,

24;

i2i,

123

Norwegian pistol

136

Orient

(see

also

China,

India,

Japan)

17,

24

over and under

(barrels)

40, 78,

80-1,

83

overcoat

pistol

142

2^4



Index

pan-cover 1 1

£

Parker, W.

142

Paton

and Walsh 168

pepperboxes

28-9;

141,

143

percussion

system 27-31,

ji,

202;

126-73

Persian rifle

124

pikemen i 6

pinfire

rifle

173

pocket

pistols

26,

48

;

97,

I02,

1

10,

140

pommel

23

Portuguese i

7

powder

11,

12, 16, 20,

27, 31,

42

powder

flasks

42-3,

4j,

48;

31-2,

164,

171

powder

horns

9,

10,

42-j;

29,

30,

1

14-5,

171

powder measures

43

powder

testers,

jacket,

46

;

58

prickers

8,

34

priming

16,

20-1

proof

marks

66

Purdy,

James

173

pyrites i

8-9,

2 i

Queen Anne

pistols

74-5

rammers

152-3

ramrods

16,

41,

48;

138, 171

Ransford,

M.

113

Reed, I.

46

repeating weapons

28-31,

2o2;

9,

141,

143-73

revolving-cylinder

shotgun

117

Richards,

T.

74

rifling

39

Royal

Charter

(1638)

33

Royal

Horse

Guards

68

rust

72

saw-handled pistol

139

Scottish

weapons

34,

50,

103

screwer

38

sear

i

g

serpentine

14-6,

18,

86;

2-9

Shaw,

Joshua

28

shot

4j

(containers),

47

(belt)

shot-gun

161,

170

Shuter

71,

104

side-by-side

(barrels)

76,

79,

84

sights

144

silver-wire inlay

85,

97,

i2o

skelp

36

slowmatch

14-6,

86

Smith

126

snaphaunce

weapons

21,

1

i

j

;

34-6,

snaplocks

15,

18,

86

societies (arms)

64

Spain

24,

34;

38,

47,

107

spanners

43

Spinodus, F.

59

Stanton

105

steel

(hammer

or

frizzen)

2

2,

i i

j

Stockel,

Johan

56

stocker

38

Stockmar,

J.

N. 60

stocks

14,

38,

73,

j£,

86; 10,

15,

87,

121

Stokes and Co. no

stripper and

finisher

38

stripping

down

7

i

Stuart, I

O

50

Suhl

(Germany)

34

suma

48

;

171

Swivel

ramrod

138

Sykes

168

tap-action pistols

jacket,

78

Tarles,

J.

37

Tatham, H.

1

12

2^^



Index

Tower of

London

12,

27,

33

transition

revolvers

28-9;

143-4

Tranter

29;

155-6

triggers i;,

22,

27

(hair or

set);

34,

48

(ball),

140

(concealed),

156

(double)

tube lock

127

Turkish weapons i20

(flintlocks),

122,

124,

171

turn-off-barrel

pistol

37

Twigg,

T.

96

underhammer

rifles

163

Venn, Ralph

52

Vernon

72

volunteers

30

wall piece

2if

Waters,

John

94

Webley

29

;

152,

154

wheellocks

18-21,

32-3,

10-33

Wiggin

&

Co.

94

Wilson,

I.

52

Wilson,

Joseph

137

Wogden,

R.

26

Wolldrldge,

R.

43

J8,

96;

2s6



1 i



(continued

from

front

fapj

Frederick

Wilkinson

began

his

own

private

collection

of

small

arms

soon

after

World

War

II

and

in

twenty

years

has

built

up

a

substantial

reserve

of

practical

and

academic

knowledge.

A

schoolmaster

by

profession,

he

is

now

well

known

in

the

field

of

antique

weapons

—

for

his

many

articles

on

arms

and

armour

in

various

journals,

his

participation

in

volunteer

move-

ments,

and

to

his

position

as

Honorary

Secretary

of

the

Arms

and

Armour

Society

in

Great

Britain.

FRONT

COVER:

A

powder

tester

by

John

Manton

and

one

of

a pair

of

brass

framed,

tap

-action

pocket

pistols

by

Jack-

son

of

Market

Harborough.

Both

pistol

and

tester

are

from

the

Rabett

collection.

BACK

COVER

:

Silver

butt

cap from

a

mid-eighteenth

century,

Queen Anne

type

Hint-lock

pistol by

Covers

of

Dublin

(see

plate

js)-

HAWTHORN

BOOKS,

INC.

Publishers

;'

I Avenue,

New

York

City

looii

Primed

in

Great

Britain

(

l)

b2b6u.small.arms.pdf

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