Engraving of Firearms Parts

About this artwork

This instructional engraving provides a comprehensive technical diagram illustrating all the component parts of flintlock firearms. The print is organized to show both military and civilian weapons, with a standard military musket detailed on the left side and the decorated elements of a more elaborate hunting gun displayed on the right. Each part is carefully labeled, making this a practical reference tool for gunsmiths, apprentices, and collectors interested in the mechanics of eighteenth-cent...

Art Historical Context

Created around 1750 by Perrier, a little-knownaver from Strasbourg, this ink-on-paper engraving offers a meticulous technical diagram of flintlock firearm components. Measuring 18¾ x 25¼ inches, it neatly divides its composition: a standard military musket on left and an ornate hunting gun on the right, every part—from locks to triggers—precisely labeled. As a practical reference for gunsmiths, apprentices, collectors, it captures the intricate craftsmanship of 18th-century. Strasbourg, a key firearms manufacturing hub in eastern France due to its strategic location, fostered such instructional prints. These pattern books standardized production and disseminated French designs across Europe, especially vital before interchangeable parts existed. The flintlock mechanism, highlighted here, marked a technological leap over unreliable matchlocks, ensuring more dependable firing in military and hunting contexts. Perrier's precise linear technique exemplifies the clarity of mid-18th-century technical engravings, blending artistry with utility. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department, this rare work illuminates how visual documentation preserved and advanced gunsmithing traditions in an era of individual artistry.