18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol

18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol

Item #CC-0723| 18th Century Spanish Miquelet Flintlock Pocket Pistol
Make: Spanish Style Miquelet
Condition: Excellent, Functioning, Restored

Description: This is a wonderful surviving example from the period. We have professionally conserved and preserved this piece as to keep it from rusting and falling apart. We found this piece as part of a large collection in Europe and it is in fully functioning order. The barrel boasts beautiful silver floral filigree, as well as silver mounts in several places on the furniture. For a full video on our restoration and preservation, check out this video on Redbeardsrelics!: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFs8y4rSWx8/?hl=en

 

The small Spanish miquelet flintlock pistol of the 18th century is a finely crafted firearm, embodying both elegance and deadly efficiency. Typically measuring between 8 to 12 inches in overall length, this compact weapon was favored by cavalry officers, travelers, and aristocrats for its portability and ease of concealment.

Its stock is often made of dark walnut or exotic hardwood, sometimes adorned with intricate silver or brass inlays featuring floral or geometric motifs inspired by Spanish and Moorish artistic traditions. The grip is gracefully curved, designed to fit comfortably in the hand, with a pommel occasionally capped in metal for durability or even decorative embellishment.

The barrel, usually smoothbore and made of finely blued or browned steel, ranges from 4 to 6 inches in length, offering close-range effectiveness. The lock mechanism is the distinct miquelet style, an advanced form of the flintlock with an external mainspring and a strikingly shaped, often engraved, frizzen. This mechanism, renowned for its reliability and robust construction, was widely used in Spain and its colonies.

Many of these pistols were ornately decorated, reflecting the wealth and status of their owners. Silver wire inlays, chiseled steel components, and engraved lock plates were common, making each piece as much a work of art as a weapon. Whether carried as a last line of defense or as a symbol of prestige, the Spanish miquelet flintlock pistol remains a remarkable example of 18th-century gunsmithing.

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