The Miquelet

[curator]

Trying to post the miquelet blunderbus photo again.

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[curator]

The miquelet lock seems to have survived well into the 20th century. "Home-made" Montagnard miquelet guns from Viet Nam circa 1966.

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[Britsmoothy]

I do like these simple locks.
:applause:

B.

 

[Feltwad]

The miquelet lock seems to have survived well into the 20th century. "Home-made" Montagnard miquelet guns from Viet Nam circa 1966.

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Quite interesting thanks for sharing.
Feltwad

 

[Britsmoothy]

How do the pistols spark please?

B.

 

[kruzer1]

Cool thread. I have been studying them as well and plan to build some.

There is strong written documentation that the Miquelet pre-dates the conventional flintlock by 20-40 years.

They were in use from about the 1580's until the 1820's or so when Percussion replaced them. Not a bad run.... :thumbsup:

 

[curator]

The Montagnard miquelets used a piece of flint wedged into the "cock" and lashed tight with a thin strip of bamboo twine. The guns I saw averaged from about 28 to 20 gauge and all were smoothbores. They were loaded with a "home made" black powder and shot about #4 buck shot size to shoot monkeys, birds, and pangolin in the tree tops. The people I saw using them knew what they were doing and I never witnessed a failure to fire or a miss for that matter.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Thank you. :hatsoff:

B.

 

[Feltwad]

Cool thread. I have been studying them as well and plan to build some.

There is strong written documentation that the Miquelet pre-dates the conventional flintlock by 20-40 years.

They were in use from about the 1580's until the 1820's or so when Percussion replaced them. Not a bad run.... :thumbsup:

Both the Miquelet and the Match lock ran for over 100 years before they taken over by other means of ignition
Feltwad

 

[Artificer]

Indeed, British Ordnance was still having Matchlock muskets made in the last decade of the 17th century, which was a good 30 years or more after the English Flintlock was available. Though they did switch completely to Flintlock with the P 1703 musket, that actually became a sort of new pattern for civilian flintlock fowlers in the next 20 years.

Gus

 

[rickystl]

Hi Feltwad.

We "generally" associate the miquelet lock as having the mainspring on the outside of the lock versus inside as the typical French style flintlock.
There were also variations of this, such as the first original photo you posted above. While at first glance, the lock looks like a Spanish miquelet. But unless my eyes are deceiving me, that paticular lock has only the frizzen spring on the outside, the mainspring being on the inside. That is a unique characteristic of Portuguese locks. Sometimes called a "Goatsfoot" lock, due to the shape of the hammer. The sear assembly operates the same as a miquelet, but the mainspring is internal.
Portuguese made locks/guns are considered quite rare, and usually bring a premium price. Would be worth getting more information on that gun.

I have shot many miquelet lock guns. Generally, I don't find them an advantage, or disadvantage to the traditional flintlock. The flints do seem to last a bit longer. The grooves in the frizzen face maybe acting as somewhat a self knapping feature (?)

The miquelet locks on the Eastern guns often have extra heavy mainsprings. Sometimes ridiculously so.
As mentioned above, this is likely due to the lesser quality of the flint available in the Region. It simply was not the quality of the English Black or French Amber.

Rick :hatsoff:

 

[curator]

Ricky,The Portuguese locks were called "Molinhas" and they had an internal tumbler and sear. The look somewhat like a miquelet but are actually quite different in how they work.

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[rickystl]

Hi Curator. How have you been?

You're right. I hereby stand corrected. :haha: As you can see in this example, the internals are similar to the traditional flintlock. The yellow arrow points to what I believe is the hammer stop. Although I've also seen this same item on the earlier locks that will twist and used similar to a dog type safety. Just in front of the lock versus the rear.

Somewhere in my library I have a pic of a Spanish (likely) lock with the typical miquelet sear arrangement, but with an internal mainspring!! I'll find it and post here.

Meantime, the lock on that first gun looks Portuguese to me.

Remember those locks sold by Dixie back in the 1960's that were originally made for the North African trade in the early-mid 20th Century? I've always thought they were a rough copy of the Portuguese locks. Hmmmm.

Rick

 

[Feltwad]

Took of the lock and must agree to what you say ,I have always called it a Spanish miquelet so I have enclosed some images
Feltwad

 

[rickystl]

Thanks so much for the pic!! If it's not too much trouble, can you take a photo of the inside ? Thanks, Rick.

 

[rickystl]

Opps. Never mind. I see it. Thanks. Rick

 

[rickystl]

OK. Notice there is no half-cock notch on the tumbler. It has a "dog" style external safety on the outside of the lock. Very cool. You seldom get to see these locks. Thanks for posting.

Rick

 

[wulf]

Hi Ricky,Feltwad and Britsmoothy.I did think that
I wanted to post some pics of my work but after
seeing your pictures of origionals mine would pale
in comparison...besides my confuser doesn't seem to
be able to make the necessary connection. Sorry bout
that.............Wulf

 

[rickystl]

Hi Wulf.

With your permission, I saved a number of your photos in my library. So on your behalf, I'll post your miquelet locks here and let you add comment. Wonderful recreations!!

Rick

 

[rickystl]

Meantime, the two locks posted by Feltwad above in his second post:
The big North African lock was made primarily for the Algerain market. And were made the same for some 200 years. Sometimes called a toe-lock miquelet, the mainspring engages on the toe of the hammer (as Italian styles did) versus the heel (Spanish style). The extra strong mainsprings eat up flints very quickly. :cursing:
The smaller Balkan made lock has to be one of the most popular lock style utilized on Eastern style guns. Made in both pistol and rifle/long gun sizes you see this style of lock on Ottoman, Persian, Albanian, Greek, etc. guns from all over. I will say that this lock operates very well. The geometry seems to be right. That may be the reason you see them on so many guns from the period.

Rick