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Arquebus key: M.35-1940

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Object information

Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Arquebus key. Metal with spear-shaped end.

Legal notes

Given by Miss E. Rothwell in memory of the late W.E. Miller, F.S.A.

Measurements and weight

Depth: 1.4 cm
Height: 15.2 cm
Width: 4.2 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1940-06-10) by Rothwell, E., Miss

Dating

16th Century
1500 - 1599

Note

This tool consists of three separate devices; a wheellock key, used to turn the wheel of a wheellock gun to make it ready to fire, a screwdriver and a small flask containing the fine-grain powder for priming a wheellock firearm - it forms the handle of the tool and the powder was dispensed by pressing the button at the top.

Materials used in production

Metal

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.35-1940
Primary reference Number: 19651
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 April 2024 Last processed: Tuesday 13 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Arquebus key" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/19651 Accessed: 2025-11-09 00:44:02

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/19651 |title=Arquebus key |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-11-09 00:44:02|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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