Original 16th Century Western European Flemish Style Arquebus Matchlock Musket with Cypher on Butt Stock - Circa 1550 Thompson SMG such as 15th Massachusetts

such as 15th Massachusetts

and there may have been more in the past

which has a lovely worn look to it

starting life as a Union Colt M-1860 Army Percussion Revolver and then converted to use cartridge ammunition using the RICHARDS Conversion system

and the Metford rifling proved to be wholly unsuited for the more powerful propellant

Original 16th Century Western European Flemish Style Arquebus Matchlock Musket with Cypher on Butt Stock - Circa 1550 Thompson SMG such as 15th MassachusettsOriginal Item: One of a kind. Here we have a fantastic example of the direct ancestor of flintlock muskets, an arquebus matchlock musket purchased out of an old collection where it has been since 1965. These utilized a burning wick held in the arm of the lock, called the cock, which would then touch the flash pan when the large lever on the bottom of the weapon was pulled. This would then ignite the charge in the barrel and send whatever it was loaded