Radslotpistool 1640 - 1650

These two "Radslotpistool," or wheel-lock pistols, were made by Jan Kitzen in the Netherlands. As a technology, the wheel-lock was developed around 1500 and was the next major innovation in firearms after the matchlock. These pistols were likely owned by wealthy individuals, who would have needed to commission such elaborate pieces of craftsmanship. Consider what this kind of personal armament meant in the Netherlands. Was this a symbol of personal status and power, or was it a practical tool for self-defense? Perhaps both. As historians, we seek out inventories, guild records, and similar documents to understand the social context that shaped the production and use of objects like these. What stories do these pistols tell about the people who owned them, and the society in which they lived? The answers are in the archives, waiting to be discovered.