A
A

Drawer 15

Polish gunsmiths

The drawer presents a selection of pistols from gunsmiths operating in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: the Gibenhan family from Warsaw, Szomański serving in the Potocki factory in Tulczyn, Ignacy Höfelmajer from Kraków.
An interesting item is a miniature pocket pistol from the workshop of Kazimierz Tabaczkowski in Lviv from around 1870. The gun operated using modern ammunition based on the invention of Casimir Lefaucheux.

1. A pistol with a percussion lock converted from a flintlock

1. A pistol with a percussion lock converted from a flintlock

Poland, Warsaw, workshop of Karol Ludwik Gibenhan, between 1810-1815 and half of the 19th c. (lock)

Iron, wood, horn, gold, silver, forging, engraving, blackening, carving, cutting

Gift of Stanisław Zenowicz, 1917

2. Flintlock pistol

2. Flintlock pistol

France, sign.: ‘Thiermay’ (barrel), ca. 1830; Poland, Tulczyn, sign.: A. Szomański, ca. 1810 (lock)

Iron, wood, wood, horn, forging, engraving, chiselling, inlay, bluing

From the former armoury of Piotr Moszyński in Krakow

3. Percussion lock pistol

3. Percussion lock pistol

Poland, Krakow, workshop of Ignacy Höfelmajer, after 1860

Steel, gold, wood, forging, engraving, chiselling, inlay, carving

4. Needle-lock pistol

4. Needle-lock pistol

Poland, Krakow, workshop of Ignacy Höfelmajer, after 1860

Steel, wood, forging, punching, engraving

Gift of Jan Wentzel, 1904

5. Miniature pistol using Lefaucheux ammunition

5. Miniature pistol using Lefaucheux ammunition

Poland, Lviv, workshop of Kazimierz Tabaczkowski, ca. 1870

Iron, mother of pearl, forging, engraving

Gift of Leon Kostka, 1939