Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely Spanish Flintlock Musket known as an Escopeta, made with a MIQUELET lock, a predecessor / alternative to the standard flint lock design in use throughout most of Europe. It shows typical mid 18th Century rough construction using all brass mounts, with sling swivels mounted on the left side. As Spain maintained many colonies at that time these muskets were scattered All over the globe and as a result are very hard to find today.
Measuring about 55 1/2 inches in overall length, the barrel is 40 inches long and part-octagonal, with a bore of about .69 of an inch. The musket comes with a replacement ramrod, and is overall in "attic find" condition. The wood stock is in great shape with a lovely polished look, however the steel and iron components of this Escopeta have unfortunately suffered from oxidation over the centuries. The trigger is currently frozen, so while the hammer on the lock does pull back and lock into place, the half and full cock latches need to be pushed back in by hand at present. The frizzen spring is also broken, and there is surface rust on a lot of the lock components.
A very nice "attic found" example of an obsolete firing system, ready to restore of display as is!
Specifications:
Years of Manufacture: Circa 1750-60
Caliber: .79" Musket
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 40 inches
Overall Length: 55.5 inches
Action: Flintlock Miquelet
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
History of the Miquelet Lock:
Miquelet lock is a modern term used by collectors and curators, largely in the English-speaking world, for a type of firing mechanism used in muskets and pistols. It is a distinctive form of snaplock, originally as a flint-against-steel ignition form, once prevalent in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, Ottoman Empire and throughout Spain's colonies from the late 16th to the mid 19th centuries. Later they were seen in percussion form, either as originally produced, or converted.
The term miquelet lock was not recorded until the 19th century, long after the appearance of the mechanism in the 16th century, and is of uncertain origin. One commonly held view is that it was coined by British troops in the Peninsular War to describe the style of musket used by the Miquelet (militia) that had been assigned to the Peninsular Army of the Duke of Wellington.
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
- This product is available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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