[Ian]

I'm taking a history of technology class at school this year, and since my professor is a shooter and (as far I can tell) all-around Cool Guy (tm), my semester project will consist of building a wheellock pistol from scratch. So the first thing I need is a set of blueprints to use or modify. There a book out there somewhere on making wheellocks, but I haven't found it yet. In the meantime, does anyone 'round here happen to have a set that I could get a copy of?

Thanks!

[C.R.Sam]

Wow.
Labor intensive, complicated etc.
Why they died out so long ago and were always too expensive for the masses.
I have seen em, pictures of em, but never dimensioned dreawings of them.

Sounds like a fun project tho, good luck with it.

Think Zippo lighter with spring powered wheel and a sear release.

Sam

[BigG]

The sear works laterally and sticks into a hole in the side of the wheel. The wheel is driven by a flat V spring whose end is attached by a small link chain that wraps around the axle. The hard part will be figuring out the automatic sliding pan cover. Good luck and keep us posted!

[El Tejon]

Ian, is it Professor Koltick?:confused: (or is he physics?)

Call me at the office, (765) 429-7035, and see what I can grab hold of.:)

BTW, my fee will be a Purdue pocket protector and slide rule.:D :cool:

[Chris Rhines]

A letter to the editor of Home Shop Machinist magazine might go rewarded. They do a fair number of articles on home-built firearm actions.

- Chris

[BryanP]

You might try to hunt down a copy of this -

How To Build Your Own Wheellock Rifle Or Pistol (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0891490027/qid=1062942931/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-2976203-7714246?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

It's long OOP but with some digging around online you may be able to locate a copy.

[Ian]

Yeah, that's the book my professor suggested. I'm putting in an inter-library loan request for it today.

Chris - That's a good idea. If I can't find anything usable soon, I'll do that.

El Tejon - I'll give you a call tomorrow. And I'm not doing this with Koltick (he's a physics guy, not history).

[4v50 Gary]

There's also some inexpensive but highly informative booklets by Ken Ravenshear. The Simplified V Spring may be useful if you have any of those springs to make for your wheellock.

[CWL]

There's a couple of companies out there that still manufactures wheellocks for collectors, perhaps an internet search (sorry too lazy to do it for you), and contacting them will get you blueprints for your own build.

Sounds like a great and intense project, I understand that proper tensioning and treatment of the wound spring is the secret to a working wheellock.

Good luck and let us see pics when you're done!