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Spanner for a Wheel Lock Gun
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Early firearms required many different tools to operate. These tools did not have to remain purely practical but could be decorated and embellished. A spanner was integral to a wheel lock gun. The wheel lock works by spinning a spring-loaded steel wheel against a piece of pyrite to generate intense sparks, which ignite gunpowder in a pan, which flashes through a small touchhole to ignite the main charge in the firearm's barrel. The spanner was needed to turn the wheel and spring, readying the gun to be fired.
| Artist / Maker | Germany |
|---|---|
| Date | 1600s |
| Culture / Origin | Germany |
| Medium | steel |
| Dimensions | Overall: 16.5 x 2.5 cm (6 1/2 x 1 in.) |
| Department | Medieval Art |
| Type | Arms and Armor |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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