{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O70163"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O70163/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GV1977/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GV1977/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GV1977","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV1976","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV1978","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV1979","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV1980","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GV1994","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FL6049","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0426","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KK1658","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O70163/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O70163","accessionNumber":"M.8-1949","objectType":"Flintlock pistol","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Flintlock pistol fitted with two locks with traces of ornament. The butt, of pearwood, is ornamented in open metalwork representing flowers and a cupid. The barrel is ribbed.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pearwood","id":"x34734"},{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"piercing","id":"AAT231153"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pearwood with steel barrel and steel mounts, with the butt-plate of pierced and gilt copper","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Firearms","id":"THES49007"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2013GV1977","2013GV1976","2013GV1978","2013GV1979","2013GV1980","2013GV1994","2012FL6049","2006AD0426","2017KK1658"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"7","id":"THES263054"},"free":"","case":"CA19","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Pistol","id":""}],[{"text":"Flintlock pistol","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1650","earliest":"1645-01-01","latest":"1654-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the Rotunda Museum of Artillery","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"720","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"65","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"6/116","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Rotunda Class Number","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"MA 1126","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Museum of Artillery Inventory Number","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Stamped on butt"}],"objectHistory":"Transferred from the Rotunda Museum of Artillery","historicalContext":"Arms and armour are often dissociated  with art. However, they were influenced by the same design sources as other art forms including architecture, sculpture, goldsmiths' work, stained glass and ceramics. These sources had to be adapted to awkwardly shaped devices required to perform complicated technical functions. Armour and weapons were collected as works of art as much as military tools and were presented as gifts to honour ambassadors and other dignitaries.\r\n\r\nFirearms combined virtuoso craftsmanship with high quality engineering. This gun is fitted with a flintlock firing mechanism. Flintlock guns largely superseded wheel-lock guns by the late 17th century. The flintlock's invention is credited to Marin Le Bourgeois, gunmaker to Louis XIII of France, in around 1610. \r\n\r\nThe flintlock was less complicated and more reliable than a wheel-lock. Its simplicity encouraged the development o fsmaller, lighter guns. Flintlocks could fire accurately for up to 100 metres. Their increasing accuracy encouraged wars to be fought at longer range. \r\n\r\nSome flintlocks had spirally grooved or rifled barrels improving their accuracy and range. Flintlock guns with rifled barrels needed more cleaning and took longer to load. They were more commonly used in hunting than on the battlefield where guns were fired quickly in volleys.\r\n\r\nFlintlocks in Operation\r\n\r\nThe flintlock was fired when the flint held in the cock, struck the steel pan (frizzen) opposite, causing sparks to ignite the priming powder. A detailed description of loading and firing a flintlock gun follows:\r\n\r\nMost flintlock guns were loaded from the muzzle with gunpowder and lead shot. These are pushed into the breech of the barrel with the ramrod. The ramrod is stored in a slot beneath the barrel.\r\n\r\nAn arm, or cock,  at the back of the lock holds a sharp piece of flint. This is moved part of the way backwards until it clicks into position at half-cock. It has a safety catch to prevent the gun being fired accidentally.\r\n\r\nOn top of the lock is a flash pan which is charged with priming powder, a fine powder that ignites easily. The flash pan is opened by lifting the cover, called a frizzen. When the flash pan is filled with a measured dose of priming powder, the frizzen is then closed presenting a pan-shaped steel surface towards the cocked flint.\r\n\r\nThe cock is pulled back further, from half-cock to full-cock, releasing its safetly catch. When the trigger is pulled, the cock holding the flint springs forwards. The flint strikes the frizzen, opening it to reveal the priming powder, and causing sparks to fly when it strikes the hard steel surface. The sparks ignite the priming powder in the flash pan. The flash passes through a vent or touchhole into the breech of the barrel and ignites the main powder charge, and the gun fires.\r\n","briefDescription":"Flintlock pistol fitted with two locks, pearwood and steel, French, ca. 1650","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Hayward, J. F., <u>European Firearms</u>. London : HMSO, 1969."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Catalogue of the Museum of Artillery in the Rotunda at Woolwich, Catalogue II Personal Arms, HMSO, 1963, p.19, 116"}],"production":"This pistol was one of a pair. According to Hayward, writing in 1969, the other \"is now in the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, to which it was probably transferred from the Berlin Zeughaus in 1945.\"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Flintlock pistol\r\nca. 1650\r\nFrance\r\nStamped on butt: MA 1126\r\nTransferred from the Rotunda Museum of Artillery\r\nThis pistol has a double mechanism enabling it to be fired twice in succession.\r\nMuseum no. M.8-1949\r\n","date":{"text":"15/04/2014","earliest":"2014-04-15","latest":"2014-04-15"}}],"partNumbers":["M.8-1949"],"accessionNumberNum":"8","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1949,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Museum of Artillery Inventory Number","id":"THES56155"},"number":"MA 1126"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN8643","2019LV2275","2019LW9554"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2002-11-14","availableToBook":false}}