A pair of 17th C. Spanish Catalan Miquelet-Lock Pistols, along with other antique arms, to include percussion, flintlock, edged weapons and militaria will be sell in the August 11th auction. The features of the Miquelet-Lock played an integral role in the ultimate development of the flintlock.

PAIR OF CATALAN MIQUELET PISTOLS C1740 by P ESTEVAPAIR OF CATALAN MIQUELET PISTOLS C1740 by P ESTEVA A pair of 18th century Spanish 18-Bore Miquelet-Lock Holster Pistols. Two-stage 11.75" barrel with octagonal breech, half length becoming round and slightly flared muzzle. Cross and mitre decoration and the gilded maker mark of P. Esteva below the mark of Barcelona, gold-lined touch-hole. Border engraved flat faced lock signed "Pasquale". Full stock inlaid with a double headed eagle afore the trigger guard and bell shaped lock stays, checkered grip and inlaid steel butt cap. Steel guard with figural decoration. Steel ramrod. Pedro Esteva belonged to the most prominent family of 18th century Catalan gunmakers, to which the title “Armero del Rey” (“King’s own gunsmith”) was conferred. Miquelet Lock is a distinctive form of snaplock prevalent in the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas during the late 16th to mid 19th centuries. It was the predecessor of the flintlock. Condition report: Loss to the forestock of one pistol. Split to the forestock of the other pistol. 2 small barrel pin stays absent. Metalwork is good with very minor surface pitting., Est. 5000-8000, Lot 30766 Bid On This Lot

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About the Miquelet Lock:

Miquelet Lock is a modern term used by collectors and curators, largely in the English-speaking world, that is widely applied to a distinctive form of snaplock, originally as a flint-against-steel ignition form, prevalent in the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas, North Africa, the Ottoman Empire, and Spanish America during the late 16th to mid 19th centuries.

The origin of the term as it applies to this lock mechanism is a matter of opinion. One commonly held view is that the term was coined by British troops in the Peninsular War to describe the particular style of musket or fusil used by the Miquelet (militia) assigned to the Peninsular Army of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

The miquelet lock, with its combined battery and pan cover was the final innovative link that made the "true" flintlock mechanism possible. It proved to be both the precursor and companion to the "true" flintlock.

Two main forms of the miquelet were produced. The first was the Spanish lock, where the mainspring pushed up on the heel of the cock foot and the two sears engaged the toe of the cock foot. The other main form was the Italian type, where the mainspring pushed down on the toe of the cock foot and the sears engaged the cock on the heel of the foot. Neither form was confined exclusively to either country.

The features most associated with the miquelet are the horizontal sears, acting through the lockplate, coupled with the external mainspring and the top jaw screw ring. Experts agree that the use of horizontally acting sears is the true defining feature because some variations of the miquelet do not have the external mainspring and/or the large top jaw screw ring.

Another seemingly ubiquitous feature of the Spanish miquelets was the striated battery face, or put another way, vertically grooved frizzen. Initially, the striated face was a detachable plate dovetailed and often screwed to the battery. This allowed for the replacement of worn faces without having to rework or replace the complete battery. The detachable grooved face went out of fashion around 1660-1675, replaced by grooving made directly into the battery face, almost certainly due to improved heat treatment and tempering of the battery. The grooving was to a great extent eliminated by French-influenced Madrid gunsmiths around 1700. However, the practice of using both the detachable and integral grooved face was continued by many Spanish provincial gunsmiths as well as by North African and Ottoman lockmakers.

Partial listing of other antique arms being offered in the Aug. 11th auction:

PAIR OF CIVIL WAR SOLDIER AMBROTYPES Est. 100-300 Lot 30713

FRAMED LITHOGRAPH OF GENERAL ROBERT E LEE Est. 50-150 Lot 30714

CIVIL WAR NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER MUSTER Est. 100-200 Lot 30715

CIVIL WAR PHOTO OF SOLDIERS Est. 100-200 Lot 30716

WWII MILITARY ARCHIVE CHARLES SIMMONS Est. 50-100 Lot 30717

TWO US SOLDIERS MEMORIALS Est. 100-200 Lot 30718

LOT OF 33 VINTAGE METAL SOLDIERS Est. 50-100 Lot 30719

40+ US MILITARY BARS AND PINS Est. 50-150 Lot 30720

CIVIL WAR ANDERSONVILLE GUARD BADGE AND ENVELOPE Est. 250-500 Lot 30721

CONFEDERATE CIVIL WAR BELT BUCKLE AND LETTER HOME Est. 100-300 Lot 30724

US BULLET PIERCED BUCKLE AND KILLED WOUNDED LETTER Est. 150-300 Lot 30725

FRENCH CUIRASS BREAST PLATE KLINGENTHAL Est. 300-600 Lot 30726

CIVIL WAR PERIOD LEATHER POUCH & A COPPER WATERBOT Est. 100-200 Lot 30727

LOT OF 29 US ARMY & AIR CORPS PATCHES Mostly WWII Est. 100-300 Lot 30728

19TH C PRUSSIAN GRENADIER MITRE CAP Est. 400-600 Lot 30729

PRUSSIAN HUSSAR OFFICERS BUSBY Est. 1000-2000 Lot 30730

ENLISTED LUFTWAFFE OVERSEAS CAP Est. 100-200 Lot 30731

EARLY 19TH C MIILITIA OFFICERS CHAPEAU DE BRAS Est. 1000-2000 Lot 30732

CIVILIAN OFFICIAL CHAPEAU DE BRAS Est. 300-500 Lot 30733

PRUSSIAN JAEGER ENLISTED SHAKO HELMET Est. 300-500 Lot 30734

PRUSSIAN OFFICER ULAN TSCHAPKA Est. 600-800 Lot 30735

PRUSSIAN M1895 BADEN PICKELHAUBE Est. 300-500 Lot 30736

PRUSSIAN OFFICER LINE PICKELHAUBE AND CASE Est. 600-1000 Lot 30737

WWI PRUSSIAN M16 CUIRASSIER PARTS REPLICA HELMET Est. 200-400 Lot 30738

WWI FRENCH M15 ADRIAN TRENCH HELMET Est. 50-100 Lot 30739

NAMED M16 GERMAN WWI CAMO HELMET WITH LINER Est. 200-400 Lot 30740

WWI PRUSSIAN M16 CUIRASSIER PARTS REPLICA HELMET Est. 300-500 Lot 30741

NAMED BRITISH OFFICER HOME SERVICE HELMET Est. 600-800 Lot 30742

NAMED US WWII HELMET FRONT SEAM AND LINER Est. 50-100 Lot 30743

WWII GERMAN M40 HELMET AND LINER Est. 100-200 Lot 30744

LOT OF 3 WWII ARMY UNIFORM JACKETS 2 TROUSERS Est. 50-150 Lot 30745

LOT OF TWO KNIVES VIETMAM ERA AND TIMBER RATTLER Est. 50-100 Lot 30749

GERMAN IMPORT CIVIL WAR YATAGHAN SWORD BAYONET Est. 100-200 Lot 30750

M1873 TRAPDOOR SOCKET BAYONET Est. 75-150 Lot 30751

GERMAN SS DAGGER AND SCABBARD M1936 Est. 600-1000 Lot 30752

SHEBLE AND FISHER M1840 CIVIL WAR CAVALRY SABER Est. 300-600 Lot 30753

COLLINS & CO NCO SWORD CIVIL WAR Est. 200-500 Lot 30754

A 19TH CENTURY INDIAN TULWAR SWORD Est. 100-200 Lot 30755

WWII GERMAN POLICE SWORD Est. 400-600 Lot 30756

GERMAN NCO SWORD SOLINGEN Est. 100-300 Lot 30757

CAST IRON TRENCH ART BOMB Est. 50-100 Lot 30758

BULLET AND WEAPON ACCESSORIES CIVIL WAR LOT Est. 100-200 Lot 30759

FRAMED UNFIRED CIVIL WAR BULLETS Est. 75-150 Lot 30760

INDIAN WARS ERA COLT PATENT COPPER PISTOL FLASK Est. 200-400 Lot 30761

WWII AN - MK 23 MOD 1 BOMB Est. 50-100 Lot 30762

LOT OF CIVIL WAR AND SHIP FIND AMMUNITION Est. 100-200 Lot 30763

PAIR OF 19TH CENTURY DERRINGERS Est. 100-200 Lot 30764

US ARMY MODEL 1836 FLINTLOCK PISTOL BY R JOHNSON Est. 800-1200 Lot 30765

PAIR OF CATALAN MIQUELET PISTOLS C1740 by P ESTEVA Est. 5000-8000 Lot 30766

BURNSIDE MODEL 1864 LEVER ACTION PERCUSSION RIFLE Est. 200-400 Lot 30767

PARKER HALE BLACK POWDER PERCUSSION ENFIELD 1861 Est. 300-600 Lot 30768

UNDER HAMMER RIFLE by GIBBS & CO. STURBRIDGE MA Est. 100-300 Lot 30769

M1841 ROBBINS & LAWRENCE MISSISSIPPI RIFLED MUSKET Est. 300-600 Lot 30770