Dig Deeper Episode 47- Locked and Loaded, Part II: Anatomy of a Roman Lock Pistol

[@lessismore6062]

Historical find!

[@kcsteve59]

Michael, thanks for explaining all the different parts of this pistol it brings the artifact back to life. Excellent job!

[@MetalDetecting24]

Another excellent episode. Part III should be very exciting.

[@spartanumismatics8165]

Nice video! It's always nice to see the new finds, especially military related!

[@kiwifruit27]

I would love to see a replica. Great presentation, thanks

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Worth noting that the "Roman" lock is a form of Miquelet lock, which viewers might have heard of (whereas the "Roman" variant is little known).

[@stevenrey56]

Keep digging'!

[@moocowdad]

hopefully someday I can make the trek from Ontario down to see jamestown

[@raulmorales9967]

Nice video,Thanks.

[@randomvintagefilm273]

Wow, what a find! They must have used that well as a hiding place.

[@whiterabbit-wo7hw]

I love these segments on the Jamestown fort. This information is amazing. Why would you throw a loaded handgun down a well? It doesn't make sense. Thank you for sharing.

[@joeylandry4933]

A soldier probably leaned over the well with the pistol in his belt and it slid out as he reached for the water bucket.

[@kiwifruit27]

You guys should get Ian from Forgotten Weapons to do a segment on this

[@georgerobartes2008]

The Roman lock has the sear or cock disconnects in front and behind, whereas the Spanish patilla lock engages on the front toe of the cock only . Collectively called Miquelet ( Spanish -militia ) locks or ammunition locks ( ammunition being a term used in England for mass produced items generally for the militias ) being cheaper to manufacture than the highly complex wheel locks of the period aimed at the " middling sort " to quote a contemporary phrase , or middle classes and used for personal protection with small calibres as EDC . This lock proceeded the true flintlocks where sears springs and disconnects are behind the lockplate . Woods used varied from the typical walnut with beech as a secondary wood followed by others treated with oil and alkanet root stains . This piece may have been restocked with a local wood before being disposed . Typically servicing of a piece included having the barrel " fyled whyte " and polished and/or " russeted " in which the barrel exterior is cleaned of corrosion , taken back to white metal and rebrowned by the controlled rusting process . Copper alloy features with arms made for sea service in both barrels and lock plates making servicing by the gunmaker less expensive .

[@graybeard101]

what were the ball held in with? was there tow wadding or something else? with such small for caliber projectiles they and the powder would just fall out otherwise

[@maryg.249]

So fascinating. Any idea why it would have ended up at the bottom of the well, especially since it was still loaded and apparently a usable weapon? Mary

[@garycousino4016]

It was probably used in a car jacking

[@justdoingitjim7095]

Loading two 41 0r 42 caliber balls into a 57 caliber barrel would make the accuracy terrible. You'd have to be within a few feet just to hit what you're shooting at! And if they didn't put some kind of patch in last over the balls, they would just roll out if tilted downwards! Either someone didn't know what they were doing or they were in a hurry and desperate just to load in anything that would shoot from the gun.

[@jfrinns]

Was the gunpowder still viable?

[@Bugster42]

didnt knowthe rmansha pistols

[@kevinwhitehead6076]

I would suggest that the pistol was stolen along with other valuable things that might not be as easy to identify. The culprit or culprits probably tossed the pistol in to lose evidence!