Model of Wheellock Pistol
Unknown Artist
late 16th century
Medium
Steel, brass
Dimensions
L. 1 13/16 in. (4.6 cm); L. of barrel 1 3/16 in. (3 cm); Cal. .12 in (3 mm); Wt. 0.8 oz. (22.7 g)
Classification
Firearms-Miniatures
Culture
German, Saxony
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Abraham Silberman, 1932
Accession Number
32.136
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Model of Wheellock* from late 16th-century Saxony, Germany, exemplifies the pinnacle of Renaissance metalworking craftsmanship. Crafted in steel and brass, this miniature firearm—measuring just 1 13/16 inches long with a barrel of only 1 3/16 inches and weighing a mere 0.8 ounces—replicates the innovative wheellock mechanism. Invented around 1500, the wheellock used a spring-loaded steel wheel to strike flint, creating sparks to ignite gunpowder without the slow-burning match required by earlier handguns. This self-ignition system revolutionized personal firearms, making them r...