Vuursteen donderbuspistool met klapbajonet 1785 - 1802

This flintlock pistol with a bayonet was made by Nicolas Tomson around the mid-18th century, and is constructed from steel, iron, and walnut. Note the combination of brute force and refinement; it's there in the contrast of the smooth, polished barrel and the roughly worked stock. Gunsmithing was a complex craft, requiring not only metalworking skills but also a deep understanding of ballistics and mechanics. The creation of such a weapon involved a whole network of makers: miners extracting iron ore, charcoal producers fueling the forges, and specialized artisans crafting the individual components. This pistol stands as a reminder of the labor and resources poured into instruments of power. It blurs the lines between functional object and art, revealing the social and economic forces that shaped its creation. By looking closely, we can appreciate how materials and making processes speak volumes about the world in which this object was created.