Pair of pistols with wheel-lock firing mechanism

Technological progress with firearms is always marked by the development of a mechanism. There was a revolutionary development at the beginning of the sixteenth century. The former matchlock firing mechanism, which was sensitive to damp, was replaced by one using a wheel and iron pyrite. The weapons were fired by means of a special trigger. The toothed wheel revolved against the iron pyrite causing a spark, which ignited the primer tamped into the priming pan with gunpowder. The spark from the priming pan ignited the gunpowder in the barrel and this impelled the bullet forward. The pistols have covered wheels and cocking devices with engraved dolphins. The wooden grip is decorated by bone inlay with animal and plant motifs. The inscription reads: SIG VON GOT SEI DIE ER ALLEIN. The end of the wooden ram rod is also tipped with bone. The nobility mainly used such luxurious weapons for hunting, though they could also be used for fighting if necessary.