Welcome to as we speak’s Photo of the Day! Right here we have now an exceptionally uncommon J.G. Dachtine enclosed lock, waterproof flintlock sporting gun from round 1780. This gun relies on a 1775 British patent by Henry Nock, William Jover, and John Inexperienced for a totally enclosed flintlock mechanism that promised to eradicate flash, smoke, and climate points.
The British patent claimed the design may very well be left within the rain for a complete day and nonetheless hearth with out re-priming. The lock mechanism is totally hidden contained in the motion – press a stud on the best facet, and the highest cowl pops open to disclose the flintlock inside. The dished rear sight is constructed into that cowl and slides to interact the highest fringe of the frizzen when closed. From the surface, there’s no seen indication that is even a flintlock. No pan, no frizzen, no exterior mechanism in any respect.
The idea was good for the period. Flintlock ignition techniques had been notoriously susceptible to climate, and the flash and smoke from the pan might obscure your goal on the worst attainable second. An enclosed system solved each issues whereas additionally defending the mechanism from dust and injury. Continental makers like Dachtine in Aachen acknowledged the worth and created their very own variations, although this instance lacks the patented gasoline escape tube that the British designers included.
What’s uncommon is the rifling: straight grooves working the size with some narrower grooves solely on the muzzle. That’s an unusual method, presumably an try and steadiness accuracy with ease of loading. The 2-stage barrel building, the place the breech part types a part of the motion, exhibits subtle manufacturing.
The enclosed lock design by no means caught on broadly regardless of its benefits. The mechanisms had been complicated, costly to supply, and troublesome to keep up in comparison with typical flintlocks. By the point percussion ignition appeared within the 1820s, the entire idea was out of date. These weapons stay fascinating examples of late 18th century innovation – elegant options to actual issues that had been just too sophisticated to compete with easier, cheaper alternate options.
Most of our POTDs make the most of pictures from our mates at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms public sale in the USA. Take a while to browse their current auctions – who is aware of, possibly you’ll discover a piece of historical past to take house!
Distinctive/Uncommon Scarce Engraved J.G. Dachtine “Waterproof” Enclosed Lock Flintlock Sporting Gun From the Well-known Henk L. Visser Assortment | Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/1049/480/jg-dachtine-waterproof-enclosed-lock-flintlock-sporting-gun. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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