The Bourbon administration established from 1714, at the end of the War of Succession, prohibited Catalans from using and possessing weapons, but instead of suppressing their production, it established a series of measures aimed at supplying the army.

To control its manufacture, the concentration of gunsmiths in a small number of municipalities was considered. In this context, the town of Ripoll became the most important firearms cannon manufacturing center in Catalonia and, at some point in the 18th century, in the entire peninsula.

Beyond the exclusive production by the army, it was necessary to supply weapons to the new members of the administration and followers of the new regime, who remained outside the general prohibition. Aside from shotguns and blunderbusses, the production of breech-loading pistols was notable, the most common being bowguns - which were carried on the horse's saddle -, pocket guns and sling guns.

The Museum's collection of pistols includes a total of 26 specimens, eight of which are of Catalan manufacture from the period described and in some cases have the mark of the master gunsmith who produced them.