Lot 262 in the September 2020 RIA Premier auction.
Today, for your consideration and appreciation, a pair of late 16th century Saxon wheel lock pistols…
Semiauto pistol
RIA: Menz Liliput 4.25mm
The Menz Liliput is one of the smallest functional firearms ever put into mass production. It was offered in 4.25mm (.17 caliber) in addition to the more popular .25ACP and .32ACP. The 4.25mm cartridge is […]
Competition
French Resistance 2-Gun: FG-42 & Mle 1935A (Prep for Desert Brutality)
Next week is Desert Brutality 2020, the big annual 2-Gun “nationals”. I’ll be shooting it in the Classic division (guns from 1946 and earlier) this year, with an SMG semiauto FG-42 rifle and a French […]
Semiauto pistol
RIA: Bergmann 1896 / No.3 Pistol
Bergmann was one of the reasonably successful yet relatively unknown manufacturers of early automatic pistols. Originally a delayed blowback patent purchased by Bergmann, the design was refined and simplified by none other than Louis Schmeisser […]
Those “puffed” stocks were also handy for clubbing/hammering/macing opponents after you had fired the pistol. As late as the American Civil War, artists painted pictures of soldiers clubbing each other with rifle buttstocks after they had fired their single shot.
The heavy pommel is also copied from later swords because the heavy pommel moves the centre of gravity closer to the hand, making the sword easier to swing.
Beating on the head, this is the last argument.
The ball on the handle is needed to pull it out of the holster (as said), for the pin in the cuirass (or wherever else), for better balancing.
And, perhaps most importantly for a cavalryman, to hold it under the armpit or between the legs during reloading.
These guns probably were made for the Kurfürst, i.e. elector, of Saxony. If you date them to 1575-1600, that would have been either August, his son Christian I. or his grandson Christian II. If you’re interested in weaponry from that age, I suggest you visit the Ruestkammer (https://ruestkammer.skd.museum/ausstellungen/), which has lots of precious guns (amongst other things) once owned by the electors of Saxony.
Any idea of the caliber/bore?
I’m amazed that Peep Sights are that old! Very Kewl!
Aperature sights have been around since at least when crossbow target shooting got serious.
Bear trying to hump some other animal… very PC :-)))
Would love to know what all the iconography meant
It means that the owner shows of being a member of the aristocracy: hunting was a privilege enjoyed by the aristocracy, ordinary people were punished if caught hunting deer, e.g. There is a distinction between “Niederwild” and “Hochwild”, i.e. “low game” and “high game”, the latter being protected by law. So, sporting these guns you show of your social standing not only by quality and the materials used, but also by the lavishly executed iconography.
In the 16th century, distinguishing your social rank from those below yours was essential for any nobleman – the more so for the upper echelons of nobility, the “Hochadel”.
The word Puffer was a (failed) attempt from a Baroque poet to replace the French loan word pistole with a german word.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_von_Zesen
https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Meuchelpuffer
Interesting…
Sights were for rich/powerful person and no sight for the individual trooper for use in volley.
Was it a safety to ensure a stolen weapon or a treator won’t individually target back a superior?
Get real. Weapons designed for volley fire against massed troops do not really need sights. A tercio is as large as an elephant and more, packed with pikemen shoulder to shoulder
It’s interesting to learn more about gun control laws way back in the day. I’m interested in looking for a wheel-lock pistol soon because I want to start collecting antiques. Weapons in particular have piqued my interest lately.