Spanish Military Flintlock Pistols, Circa 1760-1780, 18MM or App. 70 Caliber

These guns survived the Museum fire of 1988 intact. They both feature sash hooks for attachment to a sash worn about the waist. This was the forerunner of the holster and belt used in later years. They have been tentatively identified as Spanish Cavalry pieces and feature the distinctive Miquelet lock with brass and iron furniture. This model was made for light regiments from 1760 to 1780, with a miquelet or spanish lock. The lock is the "catalan" model, made in Catalonia, Spain primarily for military models. The upper gun has its original stocks. The lower piece has been re-stocked, probably in Mexico. The pieces were most likely used in the battle for Mexican Independence or in the Mexican War and were carried by Mexican Soldiers. The identity of the original owners is still under investigation.