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Source Description
At the beginning of the 1500s a new type of ignition system was invented: the wheel-lock, the first self-igniting mechanism for guns. This type of ignition involved a piece of iron pyrites held in the jaws of a cock. When the trigger was pulled the pyrites pressed against the serrated edge of a prewound revolving wheel, creating a shower of sparks that ignited priming powder in a pan on top of the lock. This action sent a flash of flame through the vent hole to explode the main charge in the breech of the barrel. Originally part of a deluxe hunting rifle, the lock plate's entire surface is engraved in a chaotic scene. Combating cavaliers, Turks, acanthus leaves, and trophies cover every bit of space.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
96671
label
Wheel-Lock from a Hunting Rifle
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
96671
contentType
object
title
Wheel-Lock from a Hunting Rifle
description
At the beginning of the 1500s a new type of ignition system was invented: the wheel-lock, the first self-igniting mechanism for guns. This type of ignition involved a piece of iron pyrites held in the jaws of a cock. When the trigger was pulled the pyrites pressed against the serrated edge of a prewound revolving wheel, creating a shower of sparks that ignited priming powder in a pan on top of the lock. This action sent a flash of flame through the vent hole to explode the main charge in the breech of the barrel. Originally part of a deluxe hunting rifle, the lock plate's entire surface is engraved in a chaotic scene. Combating cavaliers, Turks, acanthus leaves, and trophies cover every bit of space.
date
c. 1720–40
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60739935
genreSpecific
Arms and Armor
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 29.2 x 11.7 cm (11 1/2 x 4 5/8 in.)
cul
Germany, Munich, 18th century
accession
1916.4
Source extras
tec
steel, engraved
tombstone
Wheel-Lock from a Hunting Rifle, c. 1720–40. Germany, Munich, 18th century. Steel, engraved; overall: 29.2 x 11.7 cm (11 1/2 x 4 5/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.40
supportMaterials
description
chiselled with grotesques, masks and foliage
collection
MED - Arms & Armor
inscriptions
inscription
on lock: IOAN GEORG DAX IN MUNCHEN; engraver's signature: I.C. Stenglin Sr.
didYouKnow
The engraver's signature, I.C. Stenglin Sr., can be seen on the edge running vertically.
citations
citation
<em>Catalogue of Arms and Armour</em>. Vol. 4, <em>17th to 19th century and a few pieces of iron work</em>. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915].
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (243) 267
citation
Gilchrist, Helen Ives. <em>A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. </em>Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924.
page_number
Mention: p. 168, F81
citation
Fliegel, Stephen N. <em>Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. </em>[Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998.
page_number
p. 174, cat. no. 231
citation
Fliegel, Stephen N. <em>Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art.</em> [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007.
page_number
p. 194, cat. no. 235
creditline
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:12:30.245000
sourceId
96671
dept
Medieval Art
coll
MED - Arms & Armor
med
steel, engraved
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
41b0c859a193ad7a