Snaphaunce Lock for I.D.

Hello all. Here is the latest addition to my lock collection. I can't find any marks on it except 3 little nudges on the hammer. The lock is complete and in working order. In fact, the tumbler shows almost no wear. The lock does not show any cleaning (polishing) or any pitting what so ever. I truly believe this is a European lock. It has a couple features not found on later Middle Eastern copies, and it's a much better forging. The hammer and tail of the lockplate look English in style. But of course I'm not sure. The top screw is a real mystery. There are two sections of course threads. The bottom of the screw has no threads - and was made that way. It's almost like it's staked in the hole of the lower hammer jaw. Never seen anything like it. I think once I get the top screw un-stuck, I'll have a better idea of the relationship of holding the flint in the jaws. Do you think this lock could date from the very late 16th or very early 17th century? English? Italian? or ? Thanks for looking and any help. Rick.

can you help but in Polish.

http://bron.iweb.pl/printview.php?t=61657&start=0&sid=b6615389462b895fe73bea6ff41b8db3

sorry i do not know polish.in your frist picture
there on the lift hand side there are numbers that are hard to tell what they are mybe if you take a close up picture of them some one will know just my two cent,s worth
Richard Westerfield

PRZYKRO nie pamiętam polski. w państwa frist obraz tam na dźwigu strony bocznej istnieją liczby są trudne do powie czego mają mybe jeśli państwo podejmie zamknięcie obraz je około jednego wie tylko moje dwie cent, s warte Richard Westerfield

Hi Ricky,
The lock is a bit of a mystery. The plate is narrow compared to other snaphaunces of the same style and the buffer for the cock extends above the plate, another unusual feature. It was probably fitted to a fairly slim stock. The style is certainly English- or Dutch-like but it could be an export lock fitted to a gun from any number of countries. The topjaw screw arrangement is also unusual but one occasionally encountered on wheellocks. The shape of the screw is definitely odd. I urge you to do a Google search for Brian Godwin's website. He is an authority on snaphaunces and may be able to help.

dave

Hi Dave. Thanks so much for your reply. I very much agree with you. The lockplate is slimmer in the mid-section compared to others I've seen. The hammer is decidedly English in style (the Dutch having the wider hammer). And - I didn't notice it till you mentioned it - yes, the buffer is mounted rather high. Yes, the top screw is a real mystery (actually the whole lock). That's interesting you mention a similar style seen on wheellocks. I received an email from a contact in Germany that said he has seen similar on a couple of early Scottish snaphaunce pistols. He had alot of questions like you and me, but still thinks it's English in origin. He said if he had to put a date on it it would be 1610-30. Boy, would I be happy if others agreed to that!! The other issue is the frizzen. It's widder than other locks I've seen. Thanks for the Brian Goodwin reference. Much appreciated.
What I can't believe is the condition of the lock. Even the pan has no corrosion, just darkened. The tumbler looks like it's had almost no use. I've looked at several later Arab type copies. But the quality of forging on this one is more up to European standards. Again, thanks so much for your reply. I'll post what further investigations reveal. Rick.