The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 29, 2023

Snaphance Pistol

1600s

Spain, Ripoll, 17th century

Steel, ebony with silver inlay

Overall: 29.5 cm (11 5/8 in.); Barrel: 20 cm (7 7/8 in.); Bore: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1918.68

Location

210C Firearms

Fun Fact

A snaphance pistol is a type of barrel-loading, flintlock gun. The snaphance is a spring-lock mechanism used for discharging a flint. This innovation greatly improved the efficiency of getting a shot off.

Provenance
Schott and O'Shaughnessy Sale (1918); cat. #208
Citations
Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 144-145, F5; Reproduced: Plate XXXIV, F5 archive.org
Cleveland Museum of Art, and Helen Ives Gilchrist. Handbook of the Severance Collection of Arms and Armor. 2d ed., 1948. Reproduction: p. 41 archive.org
Exhibition history

The Cleveland Museum of Art (09/10/1998); "Armor Court Reinstallation"

Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1918.68