Indian Matchlock with sprung flashpan cover

Pukka Bundook · 7th February 2016, 03:41 PM

Lovely solid looking musket, even if it is in bits, J.

Here's what I was looking for, from "Firearms of the Islamic World" (Elgood)P,163 -4;

"A Scottish mercenary, Col. George Sangster, who previously served the Jat chiefs of Gohad, was employed by de Boigne in 1790 to establish an arsenal at Agra. Sangster, who was trained as a gun-founder and manufacturer before becoming a mercenary in India, cast excellent cannon and made muskets as good as the European models for ten Rupees each, though one account says his flintlocks were inferior.
Amongst the guns that he made were matchlocks with bayonets and an *Improved Lock* in which the pan was automatically uncovered by a spring released when the trigger was pulled.
De Boigne's forces included Najibs, men of good family who adopted a semblance of European military practice and were much respected, Pathans, Rohillas and high-cast Hindus.
They were traditionally armed with matchlock, shields and swords, but these were replaced with the new pattern matchlock, with a bayonet."

He goes on to say that it is difficult to identify any of the arms made by Sangster and Legge.
Sangster died in 1792 in Lucknow.

I think that beyond reasonable doubt, you have a Sangster matchlock here, J.!
This one, being I would imagine a bit more decorative would possibly have been designed for sporting use, or for someone of higher standing, but the match design Does appear very 'western' and can only imagine this is Sangster's work.

best,
Richard.

stenoyab · 8th February 2016, 10:05 AM

Thanks Richard,
Had read about Sangster last year, but discounted him as I assumed "trigger" to refer to the trigger of the matchlock, rather than purely the catch to "trigger" the release of the pan cover. So I was thinking his invention was a pan cover that was released as you squeezed the "trigger" to fire.

However. reading on in "Firearms of the Islamic World" (Elgood) P167", commenting on guns made at Mysore, states "The automatic pan opener is a great improvement on Sangster's design, made at Agra a short time earlier."

So I think you are correct and this match lock is almost certainly an example of Sangsters spring pan.

stenoyab · 8th February 2016, 11:40 AM

Looking at the fine print further in Elgoods references I see he mentions a image of the flash pan in "A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in all times" by George Cameron Stone as figure 564.

But although he references it with regards to Sangster's design from Agra, I think it is the improved "automatic" design from Mysore.

(image of fig.564 from stones included for academic interest only)

Pukka Bundook · 9th February 2016, 04:46 AM

This latter design in your last post, I see as Indian, Stenoyab.

It hasn't the clean look of the other, which I am sure is made or designed by Sangster.
Probably others tried to make something similar, if not in mechanics, at least in function.

Yours isn't just a munitions grade piece, and probably variations were made on the same basic theme for local worthies and as examples.
As we had up to this time, no known examples of this mechanism by Sangster, I believe yours is the first to come to light!

Congratulations, and I am so pleased you managed to save this one!

Richard.

8th February 2016, 11:40 AM	#3
stenoyab Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43	Looking at the fine print further in Elgoods references I see he mentions a image of the flash pan in "A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in all times" by George Cameron Stone as figure 564. But although he references it with regards to Sangster's design from Agra, I think it is the improved "automatic" design from Mysore. (image of fig.564 from stones included for academic interest only) Attached Images

7th February 2016, 03:41 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Lovely solid looking musket, even if it is in bits, J. Here's what I was looking for, from "Firearms of the Islamic World" (Elgood)P,163 -4; "A Scottish mercenary, Col. George Sangster, who previously served the Jat chiefs of Gohad, was employed by de Boigne in 1790 to establish an arsenal at Agra. Sangster, who was trained as a gun-founder and manufacturer before becoming a mercenary in India, cast excellent cannon and made muskets as good as the European models for ten Rupees each, though one account says his flintlocks were inferior. Amongst the guns that he made were matchlocks with bayonets and an Improved Lock in which the pan was automatically uncovered by a spring released when the trigger was pulled. De Boigne's forces included Najibs, men of good family who adopted a semblance of European military practice and were much respected, Pathans, Rohillas and high-cast Hindus. They were traditionally armed with matchlock, shields and swords, but these were replaced with the new pattern matchlock, with a bayonet." He goes on to say that it is difficult to identify any of the arms made by Sangster and Legge. Sangster died in 1792 in Lucknow. I think that beyond reasonable doubt, you have a Sangster matchlock here, J.! This one, being I would imagine a bit more decorative would possibly have been designed for sporting use, or for someone of higher standing, but the match design Does appear very 'western' and can only imagine this is Sangster's work. best, Richard.

8th February 2016, 10:05 AM	#2
stenoyab Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43	Thanks Richard, Had read about Sangster last year, but discounted him as I assumed "trigger" to refer to the trigger of the matchlock, rather than purely the catch to "trigger" the release of the pan cover. So I was thinking his invention was a pan cover that was released as you squeezed the "trigger" to fire. However. reading on in "Firearms of the Islamic World" (Elgood) P167", commenting on guns made at Mysore, states "The automatic pan opener is a great improvement on Sangster's design, made at Agra a short time earlier." So I think you are correct and this match lock is almost certainly an example of Sangsters spring pan.

9th February 2016, 04:46 AM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	This latter design in your last post, I see as Indian, Stenoyab. It hasn't the clean look of the other, which I am sure is made or designed by Sangster. Probably others tried to make something similar, if not in mechanics, at least in function. Yours isn't just a munitions grade piece, and probably variations were made on the same basic theme for local worthies and as examples. As we had up to this time, no known examples of this mechanism by Sangster, I believe yours is the first to come to light! Congratulations, and I am so pleased you managed to save this one! Richard.