AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Accoutrements => Topic started by: Ron Scott on June 11, 2020, 05:03:44 PM

Title: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: Ron Scott on June 11, 2020, 05:03:44 PM
I am searching for any photos or engravings of Eighteenth century Turnscrew's , primarily from Continental Europe.
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: James Rogers on June 11, 2020, 09:18:29 PM
Ron,
I tried to get that same information some years ago. Even contacted some of the Williamsburg guys about it turned up nothing . The earliest images I have seen were from Diderot.
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: Canute Rex on June 16, 2020, 06:01:46 AM
Here's a photo I found of an American turnscrew.


(https://i.ibb.co/ZggTtzB/gun-turnscrew-1776.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xgg5Pq1)
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: smallpatch on June 16, 2020, 06:17:26 AM
Hey Ron,
These are a set from Colonial Williamsburg, by Eric vonAschwege.
Not originals, but hopefully researched.
Also one illustration of originals.
(https://i.ibb.co/ZML0yQR/9175-C034-98-AB-4-EB3-B0-C5-A5-F5636-EE0-C0.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)

(https://i.ibb.co/nqyhc0V/B624-ED27-004-E-447-E-AD47-E2-F0-E96-EC1-DB.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)

(https://i.ibb.co/q71PFFP/53-F7-DC56-4995-4684-91-C0-C72289-C999-F3.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: Marcruger on June 16, 2020, 11:02:42 PM
Canute Rex, that is a neat little turnscrew, but I'd hazard that the date on it is totally spurious.  Like most things with "1776" on them.  I wonder what the little spur to the side was for? 

I am drooling over Eric vonAschwege's set of screwdrivers.  Those are lifetime heirlooms.  I have to guess he referenced the illustration to have them so close in configuration.  I never really thought I'd be interested in the beauty of screw drivers.....

God Bless,   Marc
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: Mike from OK on June 17, 2020, 03:25:46 AM
Quote from: Marcruger on June 16, 2020, 11:02:42 PM
Canute Rex, that is a neat little turnscrew, but I'd hazard that the date on it is totally spurious.  Like most things with "1776" on them.  I wonder what the little spur to the side was for? 

I am drooling over Eric vonAschwege's set of screwdrivers.  Those are lifetime heirlooms.  I have to guess he referenced the illustration to have them so close in configuration.  I never really thought I'd be interested in the beauty of screw drivers.....

God Bless,   Marc

Dressing the flint perhaps?

Mike
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: Ky-Flinter on June 17, 2020, 04:45:11 AM
Quote from: Marcruger on June 16, 2020, 11:02:42 PM
I wonder what the little spur to the side was for?

To apply some serious torque to the screw?  To either break it loose, or make it really tight.

-Ron
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: Elnathan on June 17, 2020, 05:09:05 PM
Quote from: Ky-Flinter on June 17, 2020, 04:45:11 AM
Quote from: Marcruger on June 16, 2020, 11:02:42 PM
I wonder what the little spur to the side was for?

To apply some serious torque to the screw?  To either break it loose, or make it really tight.

-Ron

Very likely. I made myself a very small turnscrew, even smaller than that one, to go in my shooting and found that it was too small to change flints with - it was impossible to get a good enough grip to apply the necessary force. I made another one with a crosswise handle like a corkscrew, patterned after a (much larger) 18th century original, and it works very well despite only being about 1 1/2" long.
Title: Re: Eighteenth Century Turnscrew Photos
Post by: alyce-james on June 21, 2020, 08:56:57 PM
The 1776 turn screw, without holding it in my hand, I believe it to be a two bladed turn screw. Have great day. AJ.