POTD: Not Wheellock or Flintlock – Attractive Silver Inlaid Matchlock Pistol
Sam.S 06.22.21
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! I know we have covered wheellock in Photo of the Day, but have we done Matchlock? I do not think so! Matchlock is one of the earliest forms of locking mechanism in firearms. Cannons and hand pipe guns had to be touched off with a fuse, match, or burning stick. At some point someone had the bright idea to fix a slow burning piece of string/twine/rope or match to a lever which would drop into a pan of powder at the pull of a trigger. Rock Island Auction Company does an excellent job going into this fine example of a matchlock.
“24 1/2 inch overall length, with a 14 1/2″ barrel with an octagonal cannon muzzle, fixed rear sight, with a round section between the muzzle and the main area of the barrel decorated with inlaid silver scrollwork, and the main area showing a scene of a fish swimming upriver ahead of the sight with diamond and floral designs to the rear. Geometric silver inlay is present on the match holder and lock plate, with a brass plate protecting the barrel from the touchhole and a brass tube trigger guard. Stock shows a fine grain, with ramrod channel, square and floral escutcheons, and a contoured butt with small brass accent plate.”
Lot 1047: Attractive Silver Inlaid Matchlock Pistol [Photograph found in Auction Catalog #50, Rock Island Auction Company]. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2021, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/50/1047/attractive-silver-inlaid-matchlock-pistol
