Musketeers/ Rifleholders

[fernando]

Hi Rand

I know you are completely aware of the following, but here i go:

Usually when you want to convert a flint or miquelete gun into percussion, you adapt the existing lock by taking some parts and changing others, like the cock. This way you leave the old lock plate in its particular stock wood inset.
However some times the only part you want to save is the barrel, due to its quality or sentimental reason and, in such case, the new stock is configured to allocate the new system lock plate. The only actual alteration is on the barrel, that has to receive a new type of fire hole.

I think your gun falls in this second version.

I am posting pictures of both versions, from my junk collection.
The first is a Spanish miquelete hunting gun, very much worn, with very old repairs, converted to percussion. Around 1830 massive quantities of muskets and pistols were converted to percussion, both military and civilian.

The second example is a Portuguese clavina, dating from the Napoleonic invasions, with a ( extremely short ) barrel originated in a flintlock action and later fitted into a barrel with a percussion lock.

Both these modifications were in principle a regional civilian work.

Naturally these pieces had an agitated life and have a long story to tell, but by no means they can compare to your luxury rifle.

Kind regards
Fernando