The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Snaphance Pistol

1600s

Spain, Ripoll, 17th century

steel, ebony with silver inlay
Overall: 29.5 cm (11 5/8 in.); Barrel: 20 cm (7 7/8 in.); Bore: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1918.68
Location: 210C Firearms

Did You Know?

A snaphance pistol is a type of barrel-loading, flintlock gun. The snaphance is a spring-lock mechanism used for discharging a flint. This innovation greatly improved the efficiency of getting a shot off.
  • Schott and O'Shaughnessy Sale (1918); cat. #208
  • Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 144-145, F5; Reproduced: Plate XXXIV, F5 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art, and Helen Ives Gilchrist. Handbook of the Severance Collection of Arms and Armor. 2d ed., 1948. Reproduction: p. 41 archive.org
  • Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).
    The Cleveland Museum of Art (09/10/1998); "Armor Court Reinstallation"
  • {{cite web|title=Snaphance Pistol|url=false|author=|year=1600s|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1918.68