Battle Ax - Wheel Gun

Not very high reliability early firearms weaponsdue to the long process of loading, dependence on weather conditions and a number of other factors sometimes put its owner in a difficult position. During the battle, it was often the seconds that decided the outcome of the fight, and a damp powder on a powder shelf, a dead wick, or flint sprouting out of the jaws of a hammer could lead to the death of a warrior. For this reason, gunsmiths until the beginning of the 19 century tried to combine firearms with cold arms, creating a combined weapon.

One of the varieties of the combined weapon is a pistol - ax. HistoryPistols.ru has already talked about the Indian battle ax - stylet - wick gun of the middle of the 18 century, as well as about the boarding ax with a flintlock pistol. This article will discuss another combat ax with a shooting mechanism, made on the basis of a spark wheel lock.

The weapon consists of a handle with a barrel fixed on it, a wheel lock with a trigger, and an ax. Barrel cylindrical shape. The first third of the trunk, starting from the breech, has longitudinal grooves and a maximum diameter. In the middle of the barrel stepped with a gradual decrease in diameter. Barrel length 235 mm, barrel bore 0,52 caliber. The battle ax - wheel pistol has a total length of 635 mm.

Wheel lock is installed on the right side of the ax handle. The configuration and appearance of the keypad resemble a castle, the drawings of which are presented on our website. However, on closer examination, a significant difference in the design is noticeable. The trigger is not placed on the outer surface of the keypad, but above it. The spring under the heel of the trigger is moved to the inner surface of the keypad. The surface of the castle is richly decorated with engraving. On the surface of the trigger and the keypad are images in the form of a floral ornament, on the surface of the wheel housing there are military paraphernalia.

The lock is fixed in the box with the help of two screws with semicircular heads, without using a lock mask. A bone plate, depicting a warrior in a hat with a shield and a sword on his right shoulder, is embedded between the fastening screws in the wood. The trigger guard is steel, has a configuration like that of ordinary wheel guns. Rear rack bracket screwed into the box. The front desk is attached to the box with a screw. The trigger is steel, thin and slightly curved. The trigger mask is made of bone.

The breech screw has a short shank with a rounded tip. The shank is attached to the box with a screw, screwed from the side of the trigger mask. The bed is decorated with numerous inlays of bone plates, most of which have a rounded shape.

The ax is mounted on the handle and secured with an ax to the trunk. The locking pin is visible on the right side. The front of the butt is shortened to the muzzle. The ax has the overall dimensions 140 × 102 mm. The top edge of the chopping part is pointed, the rear edge is beveled at an angle of 90 degrees to the blade surface.

On the left and right sides, an engraving in the form of a vegetative ornament and an image of a mythical fish with a crocodile head is applied on the surface of the ax. The handle in the upper part at the place of attachment of the ax is decorated with inlaid figures of warriors: on the left side of the drummer, on the right side of the musketeer.

On the lower side of the handle inlay is a round and rectangular bone inserts with surface engraving. The tip of the handle is decorated with carved bone plate with a spherical cap.

Despite the fact that the weapon was made approximately in the middle of the 17 century, it is perfectly preserved. The metal parts have almost no signs of corrosion, inlays and wood are intact. The uniqueness and originality of the ax pistol in combination with the excellent condition of all mechanisms of weapons give it a high collectible value. The new owner purchased this item in 2015 year at one of the auctions for just 14 950 dollars.

Comments

[alex-cn]

beautiful weapon. I will not speak for functionality, it was understood in those days ... it is difficult for us to talk about the requirements for such weapons of the 17th century.

for only $ 14. I suspect that modern weapons (hunting) of this level of decoration will cost significantly more

[Chiropractor]

... the old wicks, which required the shooter's access to open fire and created an undesirable unmasking effect during combustion, were replaced by a trigger with a clamped piece of flint, and a notched wheel was placed under the trigger. The device worked by means of a spring wound with a key, which, after pressing the trigger, set the wheel in motion and lowered the trigger with flint (initially with pyrite), sparks igniting the powder charge were cut out as a result of the friction. The wheel lock was superior in reliability to the wick locks existing at that time. It was more resistant to moisture, and even with a silicon lock continued to compete in reliability (a silicon lock could misfire for no apparent reason). There were also options for guns that combined the above types of locks. The drawback of the wheel lock was its extreme high cost, the complexity of the device, the insufficiently high quality of the steel used and the fear of dirt. If hard flint was used, the notch of the wheel wore out quickly; soft pyrite did not spoil the wheel, but crumbled itself and polluted the castle. In 1580, you could buy an arquebus with a wick lock for 350 francs, and the same arquebus with a wheel lock cost at least 1500 francs ...

How much is the franc now ??
Given inflation, 15 thousand dollars-a freebie ....

Because pollution nullified efficiency, which means this is a weapon for parades, special forces, or, like me, a weapon for hanging on the wall. By the way, the people of Kovrov won't sell the Badger to me. It didn't go into the series, and Uncle Gosha "doesn’t tinker with them anymore." Sadness. Funny car ...

[Mangel olys]

The article is interesting, albeit brief. Sorry, the author is unknown.

The not very high reliability of early firearms, due to the long loading process, dependence on weather conditions and a number of other factors, sometimes made its owner in a difficult position. During the battle, seconds often decided the outcome of the battle, and damp gunpowder on the powder shelf, an extinguished wick, or flint jumping out of the trigger lips could lead to the death of a warrior.

When Ermak conquered Siberia, one of the successful conditions was the presence of firearms against bows, spears, swords and axes of local residents, Tatars, Ostyaks, Voguls, etc. It always surprises me how much gunpowder I had to bring with me? Moreover, when rafting along rivers, do not soak it.

[Reptiloid]

I think this is not the first article of this unknown author. Trying to find today. Such an interesting weapon, in a single copy.

[Reptiloid]

There were good articles on November 14.11, --- about the Belgian and October 31.10, last year --- about the Indian. I then said to myself that the author was not indicated. But maybe there’s still, before, since I don’t read all the articles.

[Chiropractor]

the author is a moderator?

[Vladimirets]

"During the battle, seconds often decided the outcome of the battle, and damp gunpowder on the powder shelf, an extinguished wick or flint that jumped out of the trigger sponges could lead to the death of a warrior. For this reason, gunsmiths until the beginning of the 19th century tried to combine firearms with cold weapons, creating combined weapons . "

The gunsmiths tried to make a universal weapon ALWAYS, and not only until the 19th century. Already a person has such a property: to invent universal things (most often unsuccessfully), at least cars, at least airplanes, at least something. Such a pistol, IMHO, had no practical value. No ergonomics, the high cost of manufacturing pistols in those days, to use it also as an ax, dubious durability when applying chopping blows.

[pimen]

Quote: Vladimirets

The gunsmiths tried to make a universal weapon ALWAYS, and not only until the 19th century. Already a person has such a property: to invent universal things (most often unsuccessfully), at least cars, at least airplanes, at least something.

indicative in this regard and TP-82.

[Vladimirets]

Quote: pimen

TP-82.

Well, here, at least, not from the "good life", the requirements for the dimensions and weight of the AZ are supported. But the 37mm mortar shovel of the Red Army, and the NRS-2, and the Japanese Nambu sword pistol, and the Belgian Goosens revolver sword. There have been many entertainers in history.

[pimen]

oh well justify them. I don’t believe in such a rigid framework, I don’t believe in such universalism: 2x12.5 + 5.45x40 (and 5.45 for whom ?!), I don’t believe that an "improvised cleaver" is better than an ordinary machete

[baudolino]

The thing is rather entourage, judging by the finish, than practical. Although in those days, almost all weapons were not convenient from the point of view of the modern layman.

[Denimax]

It looks like a last-chance hunting pistol.

[Vladimirets]

Quote: Denimax

last-chance hunting pistol.

Well, if only a bear is scratched behind the ear.

[Jagermeister]

Rather, a shooting ax.

[Disorder]

Most likely a "souvenir" sample. The ax blade will interfere with the use of the pistol for its intended purpose.

[Cartalon]

I absolutely agree, and you won’t even be able to cut such an expensive thing

[moskowit]

You, dear, are right. Use this sample as directed to hammer nails with a microscope. I don’t dare to judge the artistic value (the theme of weapon decor requires a professional approach), engraving and inlaying are quite trivial, but as a metalwork and blacksmith's work, they are quite at a high level. The presented "weapon" was an attribute of a representative of the highest military hierarchy ...

[AK64]

Sounds like a remake?

[Warrior2015]

Quote: AK64

Sounds like a remake?

It is difficult to judge by the photo, expertise is needed "live", now the masters have perked up so much to "age" things that you are amazed.

Quote: Mangel Olys

When Ermak conquered Siberia, one of the successful conditions was the presence of firearms against bows, spears, swords and axes of local residents, Tatars, Ostyaks, Voguls, etc. It always surprises me how much gunpowder I had to bring with me? Moreover, when rafting along rivers, do not soak it.

The main and main plus of a firearm is the absolute penetration of any armor. Only in Europe they tried to make cuirasses holding a bullet, but in general this did not give any special results due to the overweight of such armor.

Another plus is the availability of the opportunity to aim. The arrow from the bow already follows an indirect path and the archers gave the best accuracy at standing targets or at distances precisely known. And the firearm made it possible for direct and long-range aiming.

Gunpowder was carried in small barrels (inside the barrel there was also a wrapper of dry paper and at least two more from the outside - from waxed paper, and from above from the skin of some animal), so no problem. The average musket charge of the 16 century is about half the weight of a bullet - 20-25 gr. in my opinion this is a bit.

Also at the beginning of the 16th century, "pearl" gunpowder, consisting of small hard grains, was invented in Europe. The grains no longer adhered to the walls, but rolled to the breech of the trunk under their own weight. In addition, the "granulation" made it possible to increase the power of the gunpowder almost twofold, and the storage duration of the gunpowder - 20 times (the gunpowder in the form of pulp easily absorbed atmospheric moisture and after 3 years of storage deteriorated irreversibly). But the question is whether Yermak's troops had such gunpowder (taking into account the fact that the Cossacks made "homemade" gunpowder even in the 18th century).

[Mangel olys]

Quote: Warrior2015

Cossacks made "homemade" gunpowder even in the 18 century

Probably "only". And how much gunpowder was needed for the cannons? And the number of people constantly decreased as we advanced. Thank you for the explanation about gunpowder for muskets.

[Cartalon]

And how many guns did Yermak have?

[Warrior2015]

Quote: Mangel Olys

Probably "only"

Why only? just making gunpowder by yourself in the 18 and even the 19 century is stupid, huge powder plants were being built, which allowed to market relatively high-quality and inexpensive gunpowder. Just industrialization provides many tangible advantages.

Quote: Cartalon

And how many guns did Yermak have?

And who knows? like there were several small-caliber guns on the plows, used with the fire support of the landings.