Torador Matchlock - Finished

rickystl · 7th January 2017, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

The barrel seems to have a smooth bore so it is a musket.

I know a wonderful sarcastic statement of an American Civil War Veteran: "The safest place on a musket (smoothbore) is directly in front of it."

Roland

Hi Roland.

LOL!!!! That's a good one.

Yes, it's a smoothbore. I have never seen any Torador that was not.

With the barrel liner I've dramatically changed the bore configuration from it's original design. So I'm guessing it will shoot similar to other smoothbore muskets now. It would have been very interesting to know how the original bore design would shoot. But I was not willing to risk it. LOL

Rick

rickystl · 7th January 2017, 07:00 PM

Hi Roland.

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I think it turned out well. Actually, I'll start with about 60 grains of FFG for 25-yards, and work my way up from there. I'll try both patched ball and unpatched with over and under wads as Richard mentions and see what works best. That would be a typical starting load for a .54 smoothbore. The stell liner will handle much more than that.

Hi Richard. Yes, a video would almost be required shooting this one for the first time. LOL Glad to hear your barrel is coming along. Something you might find interesting: The barrelsmith mentioned that the original forge-welded breech plug was done in such a manner (at least on my barrel) that it was virtually one piece and would have safely with stood the normal pressure of the black powder. JFYI

Rick

Pukka Bundook · 10th January 2017, 03:14 PM

Thanks for the info via your gunsmith friend re, the "integral' breechplug, Rick. Good to know as mine is staying in place. :-)

I just got half a matchlock shipped up here, (!) Yes, it is coming in 2 separate packages. It's that one from Jaipur with the wee birds on the wrist and badly broken stock. I am in high hopes the barrel is good, when it arrives!
Look forward to seeing your 'footage' when you fire this one. :-)

R.

Pukka Bundook · 13th January 2017, 01:50 PM

Update;
My Jaipur sporting matchlock barrel has arrived Rick, and it is a Lovely barrel!
Bore is very good And! ....It has No chamber at the breech!!!!
Smooth and a true cylinder all the way down.
Bit of light rust inside and out, but compared to many torador barrels, it's a lovely one.

Had to share. :-)
4 other barrels arrived at same time and the Persian ones are fantastic. So slim and light! 2 more torador barrels as well, from up in Oudh I believe.. Bores a bit rougher & no time yet to chech for chambers but think they will surely have them.
More as and when. :-)

Richard.

rickystl · 13th January 2017, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Update;
My Jaipur sporting matchlock barrel has arrived Rick, and it is a Lovely barrel!
Bore is very good And! ....It has No chamber at the breech!!!!
Smooth and a true cylinder all the way down.
Bit of light rust inside and out, but compared to many torador barrels, it's a lovely one.

Had to share. :-)
4 other barrels arrived at same time and the Persian ones are fantastic. So slim and light! 2 more torador barrels as well, from up in Oudh I believe.. Bores a bit rougher & no time yet to chech for chambers but think they will surely have them.
More as and when. :-)

Richard.

Hi Richard

WOW !!! All those barrels delivered at once! Merry be-lated Christmas. LOL.
Can't believe it. The one Torador barrel turns out to be cylinder bore it's full length ? Super !!! Hard to believe. I think it's trying to tell you it wants to shoot again. LOL Sounds like it just needs a burnishing and it will be ready to go. Very cool.
Do you think the stock can be restored ? Once you get started on the project please start a new Thread and keep us posted of your progress. Should be fun.
Also, post the other barrels if you want. We see very few Persian made barrels.

Rick

Pukka Bundook · 14th January 2017, 02:21 AM

I will do as you request Rick, re. another thread when I get at the broken stock.
Yes, it can be mended, because I've decided it Has to be mended,...but as yet I have to figure out how best, exactly. :-)

Persian barrels had lived in Oman I believe, by the part stocks that came with them. Still, I believe they Are Persian. One is near identical to an example in Tipu Sultan's arsenal.....which maybe gives me legit reason to stock one up that way! lol...
Odd thing is, it says that his barrel in Indian, re-used!
"The Firearms of Tipu Sultan, Page 128 & 9.
I don't have a copy of the book, but a pal sent me a file showing it, but can't seem to copy it.

archer · 11th February 2018, 06:19 PM

Great project loving the whole thing. Richard is right as well, we need to try getting a safe competition started for comparison. Elgood mentions Akbar proofing his Toradors by filing the barrels to the top and that half full barrels had a tendency to burst.It must have a reference to chamber not the barrel? I have always read that with black powder you must have a bullet seated directly on top of it to avoid air space and excessive pressures. We need to see if by their mastery of blacksmithing these bottle necked chambers made them the magnum of their day. So can we use less modern black powder and a filler like cornmeal, grits, cream of wheat? It will be awhile but i'd love to do some testing. Steve

11th February 2018, 06:19 PM	#7
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	WOW Great project loving the whole thing. Richard is right as well, we need to try getting a safe competition started for comparison. Elgood mentions Akbar proofing his Toradors by filing the barrels to the top and that half full barrels had a tendency to burst.It must have a reference to chamber not the barrel? I have always read that with black powder you must have a bullet seated directly on top of it to avoid air space and excessive pressures. We need to see if by their mastery of blacksmithing these bottle necked chambers made them the magnum of their day. So can we use less modern black powder and a filler like cornmeal, grits, cream of wheat? It will be awhile but i'd love to do some testing. Steve

7th January 2017, 07:00 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Hi Roland. Thanks for your comments. Yes, I think it turned out well. Actually, I'll start with about 60 grains of FFG for 25-yards, and work my way up from there. I'll try both patched ball and unpatched with over and under wads as Richard mentions and see what works best. That would be a typical starting load for a .54 smoothbore. The stell liner will handle much more than that. Hi Richard. Yes, a video would almost be required shooting this one for the first time. LOL Glad to hear your barrel is coming along. Something you might find interesting: The barrelsmith mentioned that the original forge-welded breech plug was done in such a manner (at least on my barrel) that it was virtually one piece and would have safely with stood the normal pressure of the black powder. JFYI Rick

10th January 2017, 03:14 PM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Thanks for the info via your gunsmith friend re, the "integral' breechplug, Rick. Good to know as mine is staying in place. :-) I just got half a matchlock shipped up here, (!) Yes, it is coming in 2 separate packages. It's that one from Jaipur with the wee birds on the wrist and badly broken stock. I am in high hopes the barrel is good, when it arrives! Look forward to seeing your 'footage' when you fire this one. :-) R.

13th January 2017, 01:50 PM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Update; My Jaipur sporting matchlock barrel has arrived Rick, and it is a Lovely barrel! Bore is very good And! ....It has No chamber at the breech!!!! Smooth and a true cylinder all the way down. Bit of light rust inside and out, but compared to many torador barrels, it's a lovely one. Had to share. :-) 4 other barrels arrived at same time and the Persian ones are fantastic. So slim and light! 2 more torador barrels as well, from up in Oudh I believe.. Bores a bit rougher & no time yet to chech for chambers but think they will surely have them. More as and when. :-) Richard.

14th January 2017, 02:21 AM	#6
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	I will do as you request Rick, re. another thread when I get at the broken stock. Yes, it can be mended, because I've decided it Has to be mended,...but as yet I have to figure out how best, exactly. :-) Persian barrels had lived in Oman I believe, by the part stocks that came with them. Still, I believe they Are Persian. One is near identical to an example in Tipu Sultan's arsenal.....which maybe gives me legit reason to stock one up that way! lol... Odd thing is, it says that his barrel in Indian, re-used! "The Firearms of Tipu Sultan, Page 128 & 9. I don't have a copy of the book, but a pal sent me a file showing it, but can't seem to copy it.