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Rare and Fine Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria

Friday 16 December 2022, 10:00 AM • Sarzana

147

A very rare double system 'Montecuccoli' musket

Estimate

€ 1.500 - 2.500

Sold

€ 4.000

The price includes buyer's premium

Information

dating: 1650/60 provenance: Italy, Smoothbore, octagonal, 15 mm cal. barrel with rear sight and foresight, bearing a deep, barely-legible mark, another barely-legible mark at the base and 'I'; long lock with Roman-style flintlock and match-lock systems. Wooden full stock (several small damages and missing parts). Remains of an arsenal stamp under the barrel. The part under the butt and around the tang with engravings. Iron-tipped wooden ramrod. The military use of the double-fire, flintlock and match-lock system is attributed to Raimondo Montecuccoli (1609 - 1681) who in his 'Della Guerra col Turco in Ungheria' of 1670, title I, XVI - 4 (1) writes: 'I made muskets that have both a fire striker and a serpentine, so that one can be used on secret occasions, when the lit match can either be seen or smelt, or can be spoiled by the wet and windy weather, and the other one can be used when the first one is not available: the Turks use them too'. The work, written by Montecuccoli after the victory of Szent Gotthard on July, 31st 1664 (on the Raab river) over the Turkish army, is the summa of his military experiences since he joined the Emperor's army in 1629 at the age of 20.Literature: Raimondo Luraghi. Raimondo Montecuccoli's works, vol. II - Historic Office of the General Staff of the Army, 2nd edition – Rome, 2000. p. 270.Provenance: Palazzo Internazionale delle Aste ed Esposizioni S.p.A, Florence 22nd-28th September 1980, furniture sale from Pomaro Castle, property Commander Pier Francesco Calvi di Bergolo. Lot 409 with photo. length 143 cm.

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