A little pistol for comments

[KuKulzA28]

Looks cool! Would it be considered a derringer?

[Matchlock]

Hi Fernando,

Though this is not as old as most pieces that am headed for I like your little pistol, especially the nicely constrasting blackened stock and the embossed silver inlays. Most of all, however, I admire the perfectly homgeneous surface patina.

I tend to assigning it to either Spain or Portugal, ca. 1730-50 but will look up what little I can find in my humble library (not a joke because I am not really overfed with books on Italian, Spanish and Portuguese arms). Also: I should not totally rule out Southern Italy as a possible provenance.

Best wishes,
Michael

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Fernando,

Though this is not as old as most pieces that am headed for I like your little pistol, especially the nicely constrasting blackened stock and the embossed silver inlays. Most of all, however, I admire the perfectly homgeneous surface patina.

I tend to assigning it to either Spain or Portugal, ca. 1730-50 but will look up what little I can find in my humble library (not a joke because I am not really overfed with books on Italian, Spanish and Portuguese arms). Also: I should not totally rule out Southern Italy as a possible provenance.

Best wishes,
Michael

Oh, thank you Michael
I never thought your attention would contemplate 'young' pieces like this one.
I note your point about the Italian possibility.
Amazing how a person from my neighbourhood (not Rainer ) so firmly sugests this is a French export production with a Spanish lock .

[kahnjar1]

Hi Fernando,
ANOTHER wonderful piece!! You certainly come across some very interesting items.
I would call it either a pocket pistol or perhaps more likely what was popularly called a travelling pistol.
I personally would not call it a derringer.
Regards Stuart

[celtan]

Beautiful piece. Caliber?

I hace seen identical verticsl stripes on the striking face of the frizzen in Spanish Migueletes.

Any punzon/poincon armourer's marks?

M

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Fernando,
ANOTHER wonderful piece!! You certainly come across some very interesting items.
I would call it either a pocket pistol or perhaps more likely what was popularly called a travelling pistol.
I personally would not call it a derringer.
Regards Stuart

[Matchlock]

Very well observed, Manuel,

But South Italian, Sardinian and Turkish miquelets too have vertically ribbed frizzens in order to produce a bigger shower of sparks.

Fernando, there seems to be indeed a certain French influence in both the decoration of the barrel and the embossed silver on the stock. As there is no doubt that the lock originally belongs because the figured stock closely follows its characteristical contours, especially at the bottom line, the thesis of a French export model in the Portuguese or Spanish taste is worth considering in my opinion.

Best,
Michael

[celtan]

Danke Mike,

Remember that a significant portion of the Spanish Population was kinda' apish of anything that came from enlightened France, the "afrancesados"were usually well to do, I have seen many of their personal accoutrements following french style.

I don't know of any miguelete locks being made in France, which after all invented the flintlock. The spanish/portuguese had the more powerful and reliable Patilla/Miguelete, and also the Madrid and A la mode lock hybrids...

Personally, I don't see the French making a spanish lock. It's easier for me to imagine a spanish armourer making a french styled pistol for some well-to-do petit chevalier-"señorito".

BTW, what was the difference, if any, bt the british and the french flintlocks?

Best

M

[fernando]

Originally Posted by KuKulzA28

Looks cool! Would it be considered a derringer?

I guess not, for a couple reasons. Derringers are an Americanism, and first appeared in the 1850's, with the percussion system, later than flintlock, as this example.
Fernando