Footnotes

Alonso Martínez was a student of Juan Belén who was gunsmith to Don Juan José de Austria and Carlos II. He was probably well established in Madrid long before Belén's death in 1691, however he is described by Soler (Compendio histórico de los arcabuceros de Madrid) as 'impetuous' and it was probably for this reason that he moved to Portugal and obtained the post of gunsmith to King Juan, most likely after the monarch's succession to the throne in 1706. Soler describes his career further: '... seeing that that country did not agree with him, he went to Cataluña, where he was captured with several partisans and condemned to capital punishment: they were taken to Barcelona, and held for execution, Martínez was recognised by a Military Officer, named Garrido, who was on guard, and who had had dealings with him in Madrid, this man informed the Captian General, who was Prince Pío; and this most Excellent person finding himself with works by the same Martínez, which he greatly esteemed, distressed that such ability should perish, freed him, and ordered that he work in the shop of the Gunsmith Pedro Esteban, where he remained until they conferred upon him the position of chief Master of Arms of Mallorca, which he held until he died: his works in all places were of equal merit and great esteem; and if Pedro Esteban was the greatest Artificer of Cataluña, he owed it to Martínez'

Martinez is credited with the distinction of being the only Spanish smith of his generation to forge a barrel from horseshoe nails, a costly and tedious procedure which discouraged both imitation and commercial success. He taught Diego Esquivel, Juan Fernández and Diego Ventura

For further information see James D. Lavin, A History Of Spanish Firearms, 1965, pp. 138-139, 141, 195, 220, 236 and 267; and Alvaro Soler del Campo, Catálogo de arcabucería madrileña (1687-1833) Real Armería de Madrid, 2006, pp. 34, 52, 83, 171, 333, 349, 350, 380, 381, 393, 396 and 397