Flintlock pistol
Domenico Bonomino (1635 - c.1700)
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1680 - 1710
Materials
iron, wood
Measurements
470 mm (Length)140 mm (H)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk
NT 1210044
Summary
Flintlock holster pistol, c1680, signed Domenico Bonomino, Northern Italy (Brescia).
Full description
Flintlock pistol, c1680, signed Domenico Bonomino. The Bonomino family remain an enigma but are thought to have been barrel finishers rather than barrel makers, working in the area of Val Trompia and supplying gun barrels to the gunmakers around Brescia, Italy. The family, of whom several Domenico’s are recorded, were active throughout the 17th century. Iron rounded barrel in 2 stages, octagonal at the breech, then round with an apex top to the muzzle. Brass blade fore-sight at the muzzle and a small raised-V rear sight on the barrel tang. The breech decorated with incised lines and signed on the left and right breech flats, DOMENICO BONOMINO (feint). Wooden ramrod with brass tip and steel worm (not original to pistol). Retained to the stock by 2 barrel pins. Length 32cm. Calibre 12mm. Walnut full stock with swollen form pommel. Relief carving to the barrel tang apron, lock recess and underside of fore-stock. Iron furniture, chiselled in high relief with floral designs (all incorporating a lion? rampant under a crown), comprising; spurred pommel cap, trigger guard, sideplate, escutcheon and 2 ramrod pipes. Steel trigger plate and pierced and chiselled trigger. Horn fore-end cap. A plain flattened area on the sideplate may indicate that the pistol was originally fitted with a belt hook, now missing. Flintlock with rounded plate and cock, each component chiselled in high relief. A large lion? motif similar to that found on the furniture is chiselled under the pan. The internal construction of the lock includes a detent on the “helmeted head” shaped tumbler. This device prevented the lock from jamming when fired. The lock is retained to the stock by 2 sidenails. Overall length: 47.2cm. References Brian Godwin, “Historic Firearms of the National Trust - 2 Rare Guns at Oxburgh Hall”, Classic Arms & Militaria Magazine, 2013
Provenance
Part of the Bedingfeld Collection. Given to the National Trust in 1961 by Lady Sybil Bedingfeld.
Marks and inscriptions
Barrel breech - top: Domenico Bonomino
Makers and roles
Domenico Bonomino (1635 - c.1700)
References
Carpegna, 1997: Nolfo di Carpegna, Brescian Firearms