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 02-26-2009, 11:27 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 17 |  Old flintlock, mystery feature on stock
Me again.
Thanks to all those who've posted such helpful replies to my previous posts.
This is a pretty old gun - muzzle-loading snaphaunce carbine - but rifled. The snaphaunce was in use in Europe c.1550 -1700 until replaced by flintlock but persisted in many places till much later (e.g. in North Africa) so, since all we know is that this gun was collected in Turkey in the 1930s, it's manufacture date is uncertain.
Anyway, it's a beautiful gun as you can see, with a damascus steel barrel and heavy, brass-inlaid stock.  What's puzzling me is the strange, circular, perforated ivory disc in the underside of the stock. Does anyone know what this may be? You can see on the right hand side of the disc is a tiny brass catch so it obviously was meant to open (although I haven't tried yet!). I know that sometimes things were kept in the hollow of the stock so could it have been powder or something? Or just air holes?!
Any ideas or suggestions, as ever, most welcome and appreciated.
Helen | 
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| 02-26-2009, 01:51 PM | #2 | Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Austin, Texas, by God!! Posts: 6,059 |
Is it large enough to hold a spare flint? Generally such compartments were installed to house some sort of spare part of accessory. My best guess is a flint. | |
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| 02-26-2009, 02:48 PM | #3 | Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 49 |
Looks like a miqullet (sp) lock from here. The snaphaunce had an entirely separate frizzen that moved out of the way, while the miquelette lock was similar to the flintlock but had the springs on the outside.
I have no idea what the feature you mentioned is. Could it be the rifle was converted from a match lock and the feature was to hold a match? I saw an a matchlock Turkish musket once and the match fit underneath the stock, couldn't see where it came from, but it had a tunnel on the bottom of the stock to feed the match upward and keep it out of the way.
Grasping at straws here.
Last edited by Gene L; 02-26-2009 at 03:23 PM. | |
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| 02-26-2009, 05:04 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,615 |
I suggest you open it and see if there's anything inside.
Could hold a cleaning kit of some type too. __________________
9x18=Makarov | |
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| 02-26-2009, 07:46 PM | #5 | Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 49 |
Well, it's venilated. That's the interesting part, but I don't know if the ventilation is for decoration or for a purpose. Could hold a pick for the lock, certainly. Or jags for the ramrod.
It would be very interesting to see the inside! | |
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| 02-26-2009, 09:08 PM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 17 |
yes Gene you're right it is a miquelet (sp?) mechanism, not snaphaunce, sorry - I wasn't clear on the distinction between the two. The gun's over on a different site at moment so will try to get hold of it in next few weeks and get the disc open, see if that reveals anything and let you all know! Thanks for all the suggestions, especially the one about it possibly holding a match if it's a conversion weapon. | |
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| 02-26-2009, 11:03 PM | #7 | Call Me Doug Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: It's because I actually HAVE those skills! Posts: 21,258 |
I don't know guys, this Helen knows a ton about firearms and a ton about military history, she undoubtably has that hot British accent, I might be getting an Avatar Crush. 
JD __________________ "as for my Sword & Spear we will serve the throne, but NEVER that man who sits upon it" - Achilles - Warrior of Warriors
Quote:
Originally Posted by doctherock
Dillinger didn't have to let me try Cammenga Mags before I bought them; but he is a man of great character & a man who's word to me now is a good as gold. If he recommends it I know its good stuff.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ! | |
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| 02-26-2009, 11:45 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ohio, Ohio Posts: 10,953 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dillinger
I don't know guys, this Helen knows a ton about firearms and a ton about military history, she undoubtably has that hot British accent, I might be getting an Avatar Crush.
JD |
I think that it is the whole package. Knowledge, intelligence, beauty mark. | |
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| 02-27-2009, 08:12 AM | #9 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 17 |
ha! well, the 'beauty mark' is a big freckle but what the hell. As for the accent, yes, I spent at year at West Virginia University and must admit, there weren't many other British folk there and it let me get away with murder on a few occasions! When it comes to the weapons/military knowledge, I'm afraid it's mostly books and no action...I've never fired a gun! Had a go at fencing and archery but that's it. I would love to though. I'm going to Florida with my family in April and am thinking it would be a great opportunity to have a go...if anyone knows of a good public range around Orlando or Kissimmee, please let me know! Hope there aren't any rules about foreigners not being allowed to hire/use firearms in the US? | |
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| 02-27-2009, 12:25 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Do you see what happens, Larry?! Posts: 3,321 |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Helbeluk
ha! well, the 'beauty mark' is a big freckle but what the hell. As for the accent, yes, I spent at year at West Virginia University and must admit, there weren't many other British folk there and it let me get away with murder on a few occasions! When it comes to the weapons/military knowledge, I'm afraid it's mostly books and no action...I've never fired a gun! Had a go at fencing and archery but that's it. I would love to though. I'm going to Florida with my family in April and am thinking it would be a great opportunity to have a go...if anyone knows of a good public range around Orlando or Kissimmee, please let me know! Hope there aren't any rules about foreigners not being allowed to hire/use firearms in the US? |
You should get in contact with canebrake. He resides in FL, don't know what part though. | |
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