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Prison Key Gun
Mullen Coins
Member Posts: 25 ✭
While I know this is a prison key gun, I don't know age or value. It is stamped "Carcel De: Madrid".
Any help appreciated.
Comments
Well "carcel" translates as "prison".
Never saw a jail key gun before. I would have guessed that it was an old novelty item. I don't see enough parts to make it go "bang". But, I never stop learning.
Neal
It's a matchlock... loaded by putting powder and bullet in barrel and then lighting a fuse on hammer. Not very efficient but apparently used at many prisons.
I've seen a few Spanish key pistols, but this is the first one with that mechanism and which is prominently marked. The only examples I've seen used the miquelet lock. I'm no sort of expert in these types of guns, but with the firing mechanism yours appears more of a novelty. In any case, it is interesting.
10,000 bucks
Sold!!
They had a more detailed one of these on Pawn Stars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1ZgJ3S6P4