1677 German Wheel Lock Project

[wr.sainsbury]

This very interesting piece has come my way for repair/restoration. Wood worm has completely gutted the wrist area and penetrated the rest of the piece fairly seriously. Owner dropped it accidentally on a desk and shattered thru the wrist - large amount of dust! Will be carefully dis-assembling the metal to try and salvage the stock as a pattern after much Git-Rot and epoxy /dowel re-enforcement. If not too far gone will put back together and complete. Worst case is new wood stock with patch box and very detailed carving - hope I have enough years left! Any suggestions appreciated as I for sure don't know it all and if anyone has a relevant key to use as a pattern I would appreciate that as well. Cheers
Further note on this piece- it comes from a collection started in 1919 which included this piece purchased in the 1880's in England by the collectors grandfather.

 

[tacfoley]

I wish you plenty of luck with that project - a real nightmare, TBH. Are there any 'before' photographs of this historic firearm to get you on the road to a reconstruction? There is a very well-known gentleman in Poland who build these new for museums and collectors, including Dr Balász Németh [aka capandball on Youtube] for whom he recently made a pair of wheellock pistols. Do you know of him?

From what little knowledge I have of this kind of firearm, there were no standard patters of keys, although I have seen right-angle cranked versions for the larger arms like this. It seems to depend on where it was made and what was fashionable at the time.

 

[mooncoon]

I am pretty sure I have a replica key in the basement. Will try to find it and post a photo. Should not be hard to make

cheers mooncoon

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

Oh this will be VERY interesting to watch. Thanks for sharing can’t wait to see more of this.

 

[NeonGreen]

i dont think i have ever subbed a thread faster than i did just now. all the best of luck with this project, this wheel lock deserves another chance at life

 

[gallen270]

Tagged, please post updates and lots of photos as it progresses.

 

[wr.sainsbury]

I wish you plenty of luck with that project - a real nightmare, TBH. Are there any 'before' photographs of this historic firearm to get you on the road to a reconstruction? There is a very well-known gentleman in Poland who build these new for museums and collectors, including Dr Balász Németh [aka capandball on Youtube] for whom he recently made a pair of wheellock pistols. Do you know of him?

From what little knowledge I have of this kind of firearm, there were no standard patters of keys, although I have seen right-angle cranked versions for the larger arms like this. It seems to depend on where it was made and what was fashionable at the time.

Thanks for the contact tac I always appreciate your insight. This is going to be a challenge for sure, dis-assembly started and looks as if this is not the first time damage has been done. Old filling with an epoxy type filler to re-enforce the lock area and replacement long bolt made from a 3 1/2" common nail. Cheers

 

[wr.sainsbury]

Further to the story - one pic shows earlier repair with some type of epoxy to repair an earlier similar break at the lock area. Dust indicates worm kept working after repair and may still be active. Smart friend suggested freezer for a day or so to kill the buggers. Even the ramrod was infested and broke at the same location. Surely looks like a stock replacement to me.

 

[mooncoon]

most mystifying how the lock works. What looks like a large V spring appears to be a bridle for the wheel and I don't see an obvious mainspring

cheers mooncoon

 

[NeonGreen]

yikes that wood looks bad. i don't know much about wood working but that almost looks too deteriorated to save, but even if that were the case you could replicate the stock and re-use all the original hardware.

 

[Waba]

most mystifying how the lock works. What looks like a large V spring appears to be a bridle for the wheel and I don't see an obvious mainspring

cheers mooncoon

There looks to be a line where the width of the mainspring is reduced to tuck in behind the bridle.