TWO MATCHLOCK MUSKETS for ID and COMMENT

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by David R

Re. breech plugs in toradors, this subject has come up a couple of times at meetings of the Royal Armouries Association. According to one of the curators a slightly oversized plug is made, the breech area heated to red, and the plug hammered in. It seems a bit unsafe to us, but the design lasted so must function well enough.

Hi David.
I believe that method of sealing the breech is correct. And it appears so when you look at the end of the breech. In effect, welding it closed.
If you Google "mughal musket" there is a neat You Tube vidio about these barrels where they actually cut the breech section. But there is a big question they do not explain: There is a school of thought that the breech section of these barrels have a slightly larger "powder chamber" at the breech end, similar to a European hand gonne. While others believe the bore is the same size for the full length with just a heavier breech area on the outside to accomodate heavier loads. Honestly, I don't know.
By coincidence, I have a Torador I plan on making into a shooter. The barrel is in good condition, but something is lodged in the bore near the breech end - but it is NOT loaded. So I plan on having the plug drilled out and a new threaded breech plug made while having the bore burnished smooth. I'll take good photos along the way and will be able to study the open breech area and take measurements and will finally be able to answer the question.
For some reason this question of the breech area of these Torador barrels has bugged me for years. It's on my near term "to do" projects list. LOL I'll eventually report back with my progress.
Rick.