Barrel dating

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

There were no covers of touch holes in the 1470's.

In about 1450 touch holes started to get surrounded by a slight pan like moulding for the priming powder. These were the earliest forms of rudimentary priming pans.

During the second half of the 15th century, the touch holes tended to 'wander' from the top flat of the barrel to the right side, just above the wood of the stock, step by step.

With both the touch holes and their priming mouldings becoming larger within that same period of time, we find the erliest examples of fully developed pans and covers around 1500.

This explanation is oversimplified, though, and can by no means be regarded as a rule. There are lots of examples of barrels with a touch hole still on the top flat and with no pan like moulding as late as ca. 1500. After the turn of of the century, however, they rapidly vanish and pans with covers start prevailing.

Best,
Michael