Matchlock accessories

[Marcus]

Thanks for all the comments and information. Would people guess this was Mughal? Happy also to hear opinions about age.
Marcus
P.S. The short bit of match was just cut for the recent pictures. It actually is a bit too thick that serpent. It fits my Japanese matchlock better. I have timed its burn as 5 minutes per inch.

[Pukka Bundook]

Marcus,

I do wish All Indian arms were easier to date!
As most remained very much the same from the time of Akbar to the mid 19th century, it is only in small details or decoration that we might see differences.
Even then, decoration could and often was added later so we are a bit at sea.

In Robert Elgood's books, he will attribute a certain matchlock to a certain period, but I would very much like to know Why such attribution is made!
"OK, What makes this one mid 18th century?" type of thing.
I have looked and looked at matchlocks from the Indian sub -continent, and have found up to now very little evidence for age.
It would appear that barrels with a very heavy, parallel breech, then a turned section, are somewhat later than those with a tapered breech, but that is something I am still working on.
Of course, a nice inscription helps!...........butvnot very often!
If anyone else knows what signs to look for in dating these arms, I would be most grateful to learn.
If I had to guess, I'd say yours was late 18th C,- early 19th c. going by the engraving on the lock -plates.
Might be wrong, and I hope if so, someone can Tell me why I'm wrong!

Interesting that my homemade matchcord burns at the same rate, Marcus.
(Inch in 5 minutes)

[Jens Nordlunde]

Unfortunately Richard is right. Decorations and inscriptions could have been added later. To this comes that even in India, centuries ago, faking an inscription with the name of a famous smiths name was not uncommon, or maybe adding a date years before the gun was made.
But on the other hand, the decoration and the inscription could be of the same time as the gun :-).

[stenoyab]

Heres one I own, the cover for the pan, the vent pick, the pan scraper are all held by chains. The fourth chain I assume was to hold one end of the matchcord...... sorry my matchcord is an old shoe lace.... but it shows what I mean.

I have another matchlock with a tube on the side with a small vent pircker in it, that is held purely by friction, no chain.

[Pukka Bundook]

Stenoyab,

That is an interesting arrangement.
Is the pan -cover hinged, or does it come off for firing?

I ask, as the accessories you show appear to fit into holes ahead of the pan.
I have seen these holes before, mostly square, and when we see these, there is apparently no hinged pan -cover. A close -up of the pan both exposed and covered, from above would be really appreciated!

It looks a nice and interesting arm.
In another thread, I would like to see this and the other you mention.

Marcus,
I am wondering if the small mystery implement on your gun was meant to be attached by the ring at the opposite end? If attached in that manner, the lit match would push into the far end, and with this tube having a hole in the side, the match could be kept lit without scorching anything.

Just a guess and al that!

Best regards,

Richard.

[stenoyab]

Hi Richard,
The pan cover is seperate on one of the chains, the chains and pan scraper are silver, as are the swivels and some of the other furniture.

If not for the middle hole you could have thought this was missing a hinged pan cover, but I don't think it ever had one.

Ot of interest this matchlock still has its original bayonet attached, I did post this on the forum over 10 years ago, but the old post seems to be lost now.

If your interest is in pan covers, I have a relic matchlock with a sprung pan cover, released via a catch towards the rear of the stock.

[stenoyab]

This is another matchlock that I'd consider more of a military pattern to most, being of a short length and very plain. The holder on the rear of the side plate holds a vent priker.