Matchlock flash in the pan !
 

Just for fun I was out this morning with my matchlock on the local military range much to the amusement of more modern warriors armed with the SA80 !

That's pretty awesome, actually. I like the gun rest as well- nice touch. I can only imagine the looks on their faces= :D

Of course, if you had had one of the really old handgonnes, now that would have been a real sight! If I ever get a lantaka or swivel gun, I'll have to keep this option in mind...

Hi Mark and Richmond,


I have often fired 'real' 400-year-old muskets from my collection.

Attached is a photo of me firing a combined wheellock and matchlock musket of ca. 1660, using the wheel ignition, in 1997.
The musket was almost identical to the two samples from the same series shown in the following photos:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...lock+matchlock


Enjoy.


Best,
Michael

Holy cr#p, Michael! That is quite a little spark produced by that wheellock. I had no idea it made such a flame. It looks like you are indoors there. Were you in the process of 'creating' a new window? :D :cool: I assume an empty barrel, yes?
Mark

Right, Mark,


It was indoors and the barrel was empty, so it actually was a flash in the pan - that time.

A friend attended my collection and when I demonstrated spontaneously that all my muskets were still in working order he took this photo.

I fired several of my guns on a shooting range various times though - and with balls! :cool: :eek:


Best,
Michael

Fantastic Michael .. you need 'balls' to fire that ! Brilliant
Richmond

Thanks, Richmond,


Well, looks like I got them, as well as guts ... :D

Actually it is not that dangerous as long as the barrel is in good overall condition.
In my experience, even a thick stable layer of inside rust does not really matter, considering the enormously thick barrel walls of 16th and 17th c. muskets which have an average weight of ca. 6-9 kgs. The heaviest matchlock musket I ever handled, Suhl made, dated 1636, is in my collection. It weighs in almost 10 kgs (the barrel alone 8 kgs), it is not a wall gun - and I fired it! Due to its enormous weight I remember the recoil was very soft.
Actually getting it ignited was not exactly easy because of the thick barrel walls; I had to fill priming powder into the touch hole until it was literally flowing over!
And: aiming a monster like that makes you understand while the old musketeers employed a rest ...

In the 1980's, the staff of the Graz armory, Styria, undertook a major project recorded both in a catalog and on VHS video, firing 200-400 year-old flintlock, wheellock and matchlock muskets, and flintlock and wheellock pistols, all from their collections. OK, it is true they had them officially proofed before, and the barrels got struck with modern proof stamps as well - which in my eyes is cruel.


m

Yes thats interesting Michael .. I am all for these old guns being fired . I shoot many original blackpowder guns but simply cannot afford an original English matchlock , which is why I had this replica made. I agree that the weight of these pieces has a very beneficial effect of reducing recoil and my replica weighs in at 6kg .. but it always surprises people that its 'kick' is so soft .
I too find it sad that the historic pieces you refer to had been stamped with modern proof marks ... I hope they stamped themin a discreet position.

Far from that, Richmond,

They stamped those barrels clearly visible: on top, and right next to the original 400 year-old proof and smiths' marks ...

That's what I call a cruel thing to do.

Btw, you might have missed an addition I made editing my post:

Actually getting it ignited was not exactly easy because of the thick barrel walls; I had to fill priming powder into the touch hole until it was literally flowing over!

m

Hi Michael. FANTASTIC !!!! The photo caught that wheel turning at just the right momment. Nothing beats the experience of firing an original. Although most collectors would be terrified to shoot an original. I too am a black powder shooter. But, I'm trying to imagine the experience of firing an ORIGINAL 400+ year old gun. Only in my dreams. :( :rolleyes: Thanks for posting!!!!! Rick.

Back at the beginning of June, I had to demonstrate a Korean/Japanese style matchlock for Korea's KBS TV, for their show, "History Special".

Here is a video my wife took of the TV crew taping me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZOMwOlft0

Here is what the TV crew did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYCAp1DK2PY

It went o.k., but there were a few misfires and hangfires (like the 10-sec. one in the KBS clip).