Here's the earliest gun in our lineup: a matchlock pistol. Short of a handgonne which is just an iron tube mounted on a stick with no lock mechanism, this is about the earliest style of pistol you will encounter.
We estimate it to be from the late 16th century. European matchlock pistols are rare, and even when matchlock muskets were still in use, the corresponding pistols were usually snaphaunces or wheellocks. This pattern is of Central or Eastern European origins, probably German or Polish based on the style of the stock and the shape of the lockplate.
The seprentine has the shape of a dog's head on it, the pan cover is simpler than the later one on our matchlock musket. There is no fence behind the pan.
Being an early piece, the lock functions by lifting the sear bar, which is attached directly to the sear. There is no sideplate. The 20 guage, 12 1/4" barrel is held to the stock with a screw through the tang and a band at the front. There is a front bead sight and the correct early style rear sight mounted at the breech.
The overall length is 25" from the muzzle to the tip of the turned metal stud on the ball finial of the stock, which I suppose would be handy in close combat if your match went out. These are from the days when war was up close and personal.
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