Rare Spanish Colonial frontier escopeta (Catalan buttstock) miquelet flintlock carbine from the 18th century. Well made carbine with a characteristic chiseled and carved patilla style miquelet lock featuring worn octagonal and smooth bore barrel of larger caliber as well as a well worn light wood stock. Undoubtedly used by Soldados De Cuera or leather jacket soldiers on the frontier of North New Spain in the Presidios of the Spanish Empire circa 16th through 19th century. The solders thus named from their use of multi-layered deer skin armor as protection from the Indian arrows. Supreme fighting skill and abilities to adapt in the perilous region earned the Soldado de Cuera an important place in the history of the Southwest. Size 30" L, barrel 15 1/2" L, bore 3/4" W

Southwest US arms and armour collection, acquired in New Mexico and believed to be previously from the local Presidios known to be in El Paso and Santa Fe

worn from age and prolonged use in battle as with most colonial used arms