~"The Miguelet Lock"~

"PUNZONE" : also punzón. "The gunsmith's or lockmaker's mark, invariably, some form of lettering. Stamped in the lockplate with a metal stamp. Many times covered with gold or brass. In effect, the maker's logo or icon."

"MIGUELETES": Catalán and Castilian diminutives of the name "Miguel" that was applied in Cataluña (Spain) to irregular units of mountain fusilers. Supposedly derived from Miquelet, the name of an early leader.The term miquelet was not applied to the lock until about 1815, most likely as a result of British troops in the Peninsular campaigns in Spain against Napoleon applying the term to the patilla mounted fusil carried by the Spanish mountain fusilers, known as "Miqueletes". Periodic references to the Spanish styled lock, as "Miquelets" became common usage over the remainder of the 19th century. The Spanish lock and all variants are now termed "Miquelet".

~"FUSIL"~

"A light musket. Originally, of smaller caliber, shorter, and more refined, patterned more on that of a sporting gun that gentlemen and officers were entitled to use. Due to French Bourbon influence on the Spanish court, muskets used by the Royal Army were called fusils. A formal continental term for the infantry musket."

~"FUSILERS"~

"Soldiers that used the fusil or light musket. Later the name applied to military units as part of an official designation, such as, "The King's Own Royal Fusilers".

~"The Spanish Escopeta"~

"This escopeta is in the William Renwick Collection, Tucson."
Photograph by BRUCE D. LINDSAY. © 1965
Arizona Historical Foundation"

"The escopeta, a light, smoothbore, muzzle-loading Musket or "FUSIL" was a popular weapon of the 18th century" Soldado de Cuera! . "Made with a Spanish or "Miguelet Lock" and a Catalan stock, this sturdy and dependable weapon saw use for nearly 200 years on the northern frontier. There were many variations in barrel length, and stock design, but the "Miguelet Lock" was commonly used. In 1786, Escopetas purchased for frontier use cost the Crown 6 pesos, 5 reales, 9 grains. The Model illustrated was made by Antonio Guisasola of Eibar, Spain, about 1800. It is caliber .75 with a Catalan stock and a 33 1/2-inch barrel. The quality of the piece indicates that it was carried by a gentleman or officer."

~"Below, Smoothbore Tradegun (also a fusil). But, that's another story"~

"From the JAMES E. SERVEN COLLECTION, Tucson.
Photo by owner." © 1965, Arizona Historical Foundation"

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