The above photographed object is made of iron and steel, and is seven and a half inches long overall. Over the years I have seen four of these. Ideas please.
Well, I must say that in all my years I've never seen a net minder in any sport that required one, carrying a quare yoke the likes of that. Live and learn say I.
Hello Paul. The fact that it is fired by a small matchlock (a very simple mechanism) would severely limit its usefulness. I had one through my hands some years ago that was Spanish and fired by a miquelet flintlock, that would have been a rather more effective weapon. However, I think the point of this one is that it would have been seen, and carried, rather more as a 'badge of office' than as a defensive weapon.
P.s. I think that it might have been clearer if we'd used the spelling of 'jailer' rather than 'gaoler' or 'goaler', although all three were used in the past. Your use of the 'net minder' expression led me into that train of thought.
P.P.S. I had this one in as a repair job originally. The return spring was missing from the lock, and I replaced it using a couple of pieces of clock spring - not a pretty job, but the owner was pleased with it.
Hi Paul, I believe Jailer is the preferred spelling in America; I think gaol evolved from a Hebrew word of similar meaning and was Anglicized/Americanized into 'Jail'. Consider 'sheol' the Hebrew word for the grave (the ultimate jail) as a possible origin. Spellings were fairly optional in English until the 17th century when scholars tried fairly effectively to standardise the written language. Glad to see you're keeping in touch with Blighty; All good wishes, Carl.
6 comments:
Hi Mike,
it appears to be a gaolers' matchlock key-pistol.
Hi Crowbard, Yes, that is quite correct as far as it goes.
Well, I must say that in all my years I've never seen a net minder in any sport that required one, carrying a quare yoke the likes of that. Live and learn say I.
Hello Paul. The fact that it is fired by a small matchlock (a very simple mechanism) would severely limit its usefulness. I had one through my hands some years ago that was Spanish and fired by a miquelet flintlock, that would have been a rather more effective weapon. However, I think the point of this one is that it would have been seen, and carried, rather more as a 'badge of office' than as a defensive weapon.
P.s. I think that it might have been clearer if we'd used the spelling of 'jailer' rather than 'gaoler' or 'goaler', although all three were used in the past. Your use of the 'net minder' expression led me into that train of thought.
P.P.S. I had this one in as a repair job originally. The return spring was missing from the lock, and I replaced it using a couple of pieces of clock spring - not a pretty job, but the owner was pleased with it.
Hi Paul,
I believe Jailer is the preferred spelling in America; I think gaol evolved from a Hebrew word of similar meaning and was Anglicized/Americanized into 'Jail'. Consider 'sheol' the Hebrew word for the grave (the ultimate jail) as a possible origin. Spellings were fairly optional in English until the 17th century when scholars tried fairly effectively to standardise the written language. Glad to see you're keeping in touch with Blighty; All good wishes,
Carl.
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