Abu Futila

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st January 2017, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Rick,

An interesting point has cometo light, via a good pal in N-Z. He told me that some of Tipu Sultan's guns had these very same barrels fitted! I did not know this.
Tipu's guns were normally flintlock and more modern/western, but his matchlocks have these very same "Omani" barrels fitted, And (!) the poincons are missing from these as well! This tells us that in all likelihood ours (with missing poincons) have had them removed a Very long time ago!

Salaams Ibrahiim, Thank you for these photos and for jogging my memory!

Richard.

Salaams Pukka Bundook ~ What is a poincon? Some sort of punch? I never heard that name before...Tipu Sultan traded with Arabia extensively thus barrels would have flowed into his logistics.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st January 2017, 05:20 PM

Now for some fine tuning on the Abu Futilla.(literally The Father of the Match) meaning "The One with the Match".

I reach back to 2008 for a great thread on accessories~ Please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=futilla

See below some additions both physical and ethnographic...variously...
1. Ready made up charges with ball and powder corked with cloth and probably carried in a bag rather than on a belt.
2. One of several types of fire striker ..
3. Single bullet mold pliers style.
4. Multiple bullet mold.
5. Sketch of tribals with Abu Futilla.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 1st January 2017, 09:58 PM

It may be worth a note in clarification about the two styles of gunpowder flask used in Oman. Not withstanding the pre prepared charge styles shown above the two flasks have a different role... The wooden box type is for the main charge down the barrel. The more delicate silvered item shaped like a new moon is for the pan. Influence from Portugal or Germany may be included in the wooden box form whereas Ottoman style appears to reflect in the silver item. I also placed items on the Miscellaneous Forum in this regard.

See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15083 at #15
and 16...the latter which may be Omani or Ottoman.

BANDOOK · 2nd January 2017, 11:16 AM

HERE IS MINE,MISSING THE MATCH AND FEW PARTS,STILL LOVE THIS GUN

rickystl · 2nd January 2017, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDOOK

HERE IS MINE,MISSING THE MATCH AND FEW PARTS,STILL LOVE THIS GUN

Hi Bandook.

That is a nice long barrel on that one. Very neat.

Rick.

BANDOOK · 6th January 2017, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Bandook.

That is a nice long barrel on that one. Very neat.

Rick.

tnx rick,appreciate ur comments,cheers rajesh

Ian · 6th January 2017, 04:00 PM

Ibrahiim:

Thanks for that scholarly reference. A well researched thesis and good historical perspective.

Ian.

BANDOOK · 8th January 2017, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Bandook.

That is a nice long barrel on that one. Very neat.

Rick.

THANKS RICK,MISSING THE THREAD ,FEW BITS AND PIECES OF THE MATCH,CHEERS

rickystl · 2nd January 2017, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

It may be worth a note in clarification about the two styles of gunpowder flask used in Oman. Not withstanding the pre prepared charge styles shown above the two flasks have a different role... The wooden box type is for the main charge down the barrel. The more delicate silvered item shaped like a new moon is for the pan. Influence from Portugal or Germany may be included in the wooden box form whereas Ottoman style appears to reflect in the silver item. I also placed items on the Miscellaneous Forum in this regard.

See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15083 at #15
and 16...the latter which may be Omani or Ottoman.

Hi Ibrahiim.

Thank you so much for all this additional information on these guns - and accessories. Most appreciative. Super interesting.

Rick

rickystl · 2nd January 2017, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams Pukka Bundook ~ What is a poincon? Some sort of punch? I never heard that name before...Tipu Sultan traded with Arabia extensively thus barrels would have flowed into his logistics.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Hi Richard.

Thanks for your input here. VERY interesting. But I too am at a loss for the definition of poincon ?? Please elaborate. LOL.

Rick.

fernando · 2nd January 2017, 03:40 PM

Poinçon= Puncture, Punch ... the term used by the French, in the context, for inspection or maker marks

.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 2nd January 2017, 08:37 PM

Another way of spooning in a charge of powder to the barrel was with a powder measure.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd January 2017, 10:36 PM

A peculiar fact has emerged from ICOMAN in a report a while ago where it stated ~

Quote" Going into the history of small firearms, Dr Roads of Icoman said that no flintlock guns of any description seem to have been found in Oman. Documentary sources endorse the view that most tribes went from matchlock muskets (abu futilla) straight to breechloading rifled arms, usually the Martini Henry, though in some cases it may have been a quantum leap from matchlock to the .303 Lee Enfield.

“No pistols have been recorded except the Mauser (C96) 7.63 at the Bait al Zubair Museum and which belonged to the father of H E Mohammed al Zubair, although many were offered for sale in Muscat.

"For example the Mauser C96 was on sale for R74 (537bz) with 400 rounds thrown in - there were no fewer than 500 of these for sale. Personal armament was the musket or rifle plus sword and khanjar. Distribution of types today reflects, as one might expect, trading routes and trading ports and a strong conservatism.”

Turning to the matchlock abu futilla, he said it is hard to pinpoint the origin of these deeply fluted barrels with prominent poinçons (proofmarks). “Our quest for Portuguese examples of these early matchlocks has failed both in specimens and illustrations. So the legend that their very distinctive fluted barrels demonstrate a Portuguese origin remains exactly that.”

However, he added that the most striking fact is that these matchlocks with side plates resemble quite markedly some matchlocks from the Scinde, (the British spelling for the province of Sindh when they ruled it during 1850s). “With the Sea of Oman connections to Gwadar going back many centuries, it seems more likely that Scinde designs would be found on the Omani coast.”Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd January 2017, 11:08 PM

See https://books.google.com.om/books?id...20oman&f=false since you may have wondered what was the make up of the Match material where it is described as Quote"soaked in saltpetre found in bat droppings.''Unquote.

Showing below for interest Two blown barrels at the breach...with about 10 inches of barrel left...and another type of powder flask made of Gazelle horn with silver mounts.From the Richardson and Dorr Omani Heritage publication.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th January 2017, 03:08 AM

What came out of the barrel when the gun went off is not what was put in there when it was loaded... Such was the pressure in ramming the bullet that it transformed more into a long solid pipe shaped bullet more like a modern bullet today...about half an inch long +.

In a further anecdote Burton spoke about the tell tale give away when using these weapons in an ambush such was the smoke generated as the match smouldered ....

These weapons gave a hefty kick and it follows that wolf was used both as a Talismanic and as a guard against the Butt catching fire and also used at the Butts end to absorb the recoil.

1st January 2017, 05:20 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Now for some fine tuning on the Abu Futilla.(literally The Father of the Match) meaning "The One with the Match". I reach back to 2008 for a great thread on accessories~ Please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=futilla See below some additions both physical and ethnographic...variously... 1. Ready made up charges with ball and powder corked with cloth and probably carried in a bag rather than on a belt. 2. One of several types of fire striker .. 3. Single bullet mold pliers style. 4. Multiple bullet mold. 5. Sketch of tribals with Abu Futilla. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 1st January 2017 at 09:51 PM.

1st January 2017, 09:58 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	It may be worth a note in clarification about the two styles of gunpowder flask used in Oman. Not withstanding the pre prepared charge styles shown above the two flasks have a different role... The wooden box type is for the main charge down the barrel. The more delicate silvered item shaped like a new moon is for the pan. Influence from Portugal or Germany may be included in the wooden box form whereas Ottoman style appears to reflect in the silver item. I also placed items on the Miscellaneous Forum in this regard. See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15083 at #15 and 16...the latter which may be Omani or Ottoman. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 1st January 2017 at 10:10 PM.

2nd January 2017, 11:16 AM	#4
BANDOOK Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND Posts: 627	MY ABU FUTILLA HERE IS MINE,MISSING THE MATCH AND FEW PARTS,STILL LOVE THIS GUN Attached Images

2nd January 2017, 08:37 PM	#12
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Another way of spooning in a charge of powder to the barrel was with a powder measure. Attached Images

3rd January 2017, 10:36 PM	#13
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	A peculiar fact has emerged from ICOMAN in a report a while ago where it stated ~ Quote" Going into the history of small firearms, Dr Roads of Icoman said that no flintlock guns of any description seem to have been found in Oman. Documentary sources endorse the view that most tribes went from matchlock muskets (abu futilla) straight to breechloading rifled arms, usually the Martini Henry, though in some cases it may have been a quantum leap from matchlock to the .303 Lee Enfield. “No pistols have been recorded except the Mauser (C96) 7.63 at the Bait al Zubair Museum and which belonged to the father of H E Mohammed al Zubair, although many were offered for sale in Muscat. "For example the Mauser C96 was on sale for R74 (537bz) with 400 rounds thrown in - there were no fewer than 500 of these for sale. Personal armament was the musket or rifle plus sword and khanjar. Distribution of types today reflects, as one might expect, trading routes and trading ports and a strong conservatism.” Turning to the matchlock abu futilla, he said it is hard to pinpoint the origin of these deeply fluted barrels with prominent poinçons (proofmarks). “Our quest for Portuguese examples of these early matchlocks has failed both in specimens and illustrations. So the legend that their very distinctive fluted barrels demonstrate a Portuguese origin remains exactly that.” However, he added that the most striking fact is that these matchlocks with side plates resemble quite markedly some matchlocks from the Scinde, (the British spelling for the province of Sindh when they ruled it during 1850s). “With the Sea of Oman connections to Gwadar going back many centuries, it seems more likely that Scinde designs would be found on the Omani coast.”Unquote. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 3rd January 2017 at 11:29 PM.

6th January 2017, 04:00 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,397	Ibrahiim: Thanks for that scholarly reference. A well researched thesis and good historical perspective. Ian.

2nd January 2017, 03:40 PM	#11
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Poinçon= Puncture, Punch ... the term used by the French, in the context, for inspection or maker marks .

3rd January 2017, 11:08 PM	#14
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	See https://books.google.com.om/books?id...20oman&f=false since you may have wondered what was the make up of the Match material where it is described as Quote"soaked in saltpetre found in bat droppings.''Unquote. Showing below for interest Two blown barrels at the breach...with about 10 inches of barrel left...and another type of powder flask made of Gazelle horn with silver mounts.From the Richardson and Dorr Omani Heritage publication. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 3rd January 2017 at 11:43 PM.

4th January 2017, 03:08 AM	#15
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	What came out of the barrel when the gun went off is not what was put in there when it was loaded... Such was the pressure in ramming the bullet that it transformed more into a long solid pipe shaped bullet more like a modern bullet today...about half an inch long +. In a further anecdote Burton spoke about the tell tale give away when using these weapons in an ambush such was the smoke generated as the match smouldered .... These weapons gave a hefty kick and it follows that wolf was used both as a Talismanic and as a guard against the Butt catching fire and also used at the Butts end to absorb the recoil.