Hunting Knife Combined with Wheellock Pistol 1528 - 1546

This 16th-century Hunting Knife Combined with Wheellock Pistol by Ambrosius Gemlich exemplifies the innovative combination of weapons during the Renaissance. The intricate design features a blade integrated with a wheellock mechanism, offering both cutting and firing capabilities. The wheellock, a complex firing system utilizing a rotating wheel and flint, provided an advantage in accuracy and speed compared to earlier matchlock firearms. This piece, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, demonstrates the craftsmanship and technological advancements in weaponry during a time of significant military and societal shifts.