Forgotten Weapons
Published 13 Aug 2012Today we have one of the oldest guns we’ve looked at, a Lorenzoni repeating flintlock pistol. The system was designed by an Italian gunmaker in Florence name Michele Lorenzoni. They were made in very small numbers, and the workmanship is stunning, especially considering that they were first manufactured in the 1680s.
Instead of using a revolving cylinder pre-loaded with multiple shots, the Lorenzoni system utilizes powder and ball magazines in the frame of the gun and a rotating breechblock much like a powder throw tool used today for reloading ammunition.
From the comments (Ian responding to viewer questions):
Forgotten Weapons
10 years ago
One word: money. Because of the skill and time required to make them, Lorenzonis were very expensive guns. This is the same reason armies were never equipped with wheel locks, despite them being superior to the flintlocks available at the same time.Forgotten Weapons
10 years ago
It’s fully functional, and in excellent condition. We didn’t shoot it because it wasn’t practical to get to a range during that visit, and because that pistol is probably worth about as much as my house.Forgotten Weapons
9 years ago
Yep, the chamber is slightly larger than the barrel, so the ball will roll smoothly into it, and then the soft lead forms a gas seal when you fire.
