Spring Matchlock
Something of an oddity that. Certainly looks like a matchlock but far more complicated than it needs to be. Springing the trigger and hammer in such a way is very odd. Would make more sense as a flintlock but with no striker or way of holding the flint, that’s certainly out. Saying that, all Indian matchlocks have an open jaw of some kind on the hammer and this doesn’t have that either.
Not sure about supply but definite Chinese influences in the whole stock shape and design.
These things are incredibly difficult to date, as in many regions they copied the designs and fashions of much earlier European mechanisms 100s of years after they were superseded elsewhere. The snaphaunch in North Africa for instance. As to origin in this case, all the mechanism is local manufacture for sure but need better photos of the barrel, as that is the most likely traded piece.
So rare to talk ethnic guns on here or anywhere else. It’s an area rather overlooked in my opinion.
Cheers
Andy
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