As part of our ongoing coverage of muzzleloaders at the 2020 SHOT Show, today we’re showing you a selection of muzzleloaders from the NRA “History of Concealed Carry” exhibit. I didn’t expect a small museum to be at the center of the show, but it was a welcome surprise in a sea of modern “tacticool” equipment.

The German Ball Butt Dag, Circa 1630

Touted as the “First concealed carry pistol”, I feel this would only be concealed in the bulky pants of the 1600s.

As stated by the museum placard, “The earliest firearms- hand cannons and matchlocks- relied on a slow burning match or other smoldering ember for ignition.

The Wheellock was the first mechanical lock, circa 1500. It allowed a gun to be carried with a wound spring, loaded and ready to fire. Some attribute this design to Leonardo Da Vinci.”

I mean, who doesn’t like wearing curtains to the court? Image Credit

A detail of the wheel lock mechanism, note the worn engraving on the wheel and lock plate.

The name sake featured in this photograph, “The Ball Butt” is carved with scrimshawed ivory or bone inlay

Note the face carved into the inlay around the tang, a common motif for the time.