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need info on ancient flintlock!

Gymbo
HI ALL! I own a cabinet shop and a customer wants me to make a mounting for an ancient flintlock he has. I have sent pictures to several online and haven't really gotten a definite answer as to what it is. I would like to add a plaque on the mount to give some info on it.
Some info to help spark (oh, that was bad) your interest:
15/16" bore, 44" barrel, flintlock, octagon barrel, weighs 22 pounds, has "calderon" name stamped on it (one guy thought it was from spain). Right at the balance point, there is a steel band with a ridge that probably fit into some sort of holder, as there is an impression and wear in the stock at that point showing where it sat in some sort of cradle. Various parts of the lock have fancy scroll work engraving. Cannot tell if it is rifled as it is pretty rusted inside. One guy thought the lock was a "Miquelet" lock. One thought it was a blunderbuss from possible spanish Armada used for close range firing from ship to ship. Anther guy thought it might be a "wall gun", and said that George Washington had one which was ID one inch. This one is close to that.
So, any one want to help me with this bit of history?
Pictures can be seen at: (for some reason this forum software messes up the upl. The actual url start with http)


http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/gympolestar@sbcglobal.net/my_photos

If you would like to help me with this, please email me direct and I can answer any further questions you might have or take additional pictures to help.
Thanks for your help!
Jimbo
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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • rhmc24
    See my email send direct. Check out my ID info.
    0
  • Contender Man
    Have made a seperate post containing selected images, etc.


    2470099-S.jpg
    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
    0
  • rhmc24
    Here is copy of my direct reply. It is Spanish or at least Hispanic, a miquelet lock.
    Wall gun. I wouldn't call it a blunderbus but the bell muzzle apparently
    was installed to facilitate loading, same reason as for the funnel shaped
    muzzle on the usual blunderbus. Obviously added after the gun was
    originally made. Blunderbusses are usually short barrel from about 15 to
    20" to make the gun more portable, the funnel muzzle to make it easier to
    load while riding on a coach. Fortunate your gun has not suffered the
    usual misguided efforts to 'restore' it. Even the leather guard is still
    in place. Miquelet locks had the leather tacked on behind the lock to
    protect the hand of the shooter from having the recoil injure his hand by
    the exposed lock parts. Most miq locks have that removed to 'clean up'
    the gun. Overall condition looks pretty good. Miquelet locks can date
    from very early in the 1600s up into the mid 1800s. I guess that one at
    mid 1700s, but strictly a guess as it would take a specialist on Spanish
    arms to give you accurate info. If the history of the gun can be verified
    it could be very valuable. If not, the value would be modest unless you
    can find a well heeled collector of Spanish pieces, who are few and far
    between. Hope this helps. Robert
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