• Visit by Phases
• Visit by Rooms
  • ROOM 01 The first arms 16th - 18th centuries
  • ROOM 02 Flintlock Weaponry.19th century.
  • ROOM 03 Percussion Arms. 19th Century.
  • ROOM 04 New Systems. 19th Century.
  • ROOM 05 Pepperboxes and revolvers. 19th and 20th Centuries.
  • ROOM 06 Decorative Techniques
  • ROOM 07 Modern and Contemporary arms. 20th Century.

ROOM 04 New Systems. 19th Century.

Defining a market

As the 19th century wore on, the lack of orders for military hardware from the State obliged Basque gun makers to cater for the civil market instead, making commercial arms, such as hunting rifles, pistols and revolvers.

It is at this time that the first breech-loading arms appear, as a result of the technological advances made in the iron and steel industry which led to new kinds of bullets. These new projectiles in turn brought about the development of different ignition systems which led to the first breech-loading weapons, the forebears of repeating weapons and semiautomatic pistols.

This room will show single-shot weapons, together with references to the evolution of projectiles which permit different breech-loading systems.