This fowling piece is one of the earliest firearms equiped with the flintlock of French construction. It was made for Louis XIII (reigned 1610–43) in the workshop directed by Pierre Le Bourgeois’ brother, Marin (about 1550–1634), to whom the invention of the flintlock mechanism is traditionally ascribed. The decoration of the gun includes the crowned monogram of the king. The scroll-shaped end of the gunstock is an unusual and especially graceful feature of this gun’s design.
It’s crazy to think how long the flintlock reigned supreme.
The funniest part is it got dethroned by the invention of a priest who just wanted to hunt ducks. Then he accidentally made one of the most important innovations in the history of warfare.
What was the priest’s invention? Would love to read more about it.
The priest was a Scot named Alexander Forsyth and he used fulminates to make the first percussion caps.
Awesome! Thank you!
I didn’t know that, that’s pretty funny. Gotta love human innovation sometimes.