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25th February 2013, 05:01 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Denmark
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Chinese? matchlock for comments
Hi folks
These don't seem to come up too often so I thought it might be worth sharing. I believe this to be a Chinese gun. Total length 136cm. Bore 13mm. The sprung matchlock mechanism is working. Although the peg that holds the spring in 'ready' position is worn and I would be very afraid of carrying it loaded, lit and cocked The barrel is held by 29 brass bands (and one is missing), plus one sheet metal steel band securing the breech. The barrel is padded out by three leather circles to get the correct distance between serpentine and pan. The pan has no cover, neither can I see any evidence that there ever was one. The barrel itself is octagonal becoming round and is pretty crudely formed. No marks of any kind that I can see, and no sight. I think that the barrel is rather older than the rest of the fittings since corrosion around the breech end, and round the pan suggests a long and useful life. The rest of the barrel is in very good condition and has a very nice black patina. Not sure what the hole in the 'pistol grip' is for. It looks old and not one made by a previous collector for wall mounting. No ramrod. I am assuming this is 19C, but I'd be eager to hear from anyone with more knowledge of these. Chris |
26th February 2013, 07:47 PM | #2 |
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Here are a couple of Chinese matchlocks to compare, do you have any pictures of barrel the end, is it sealed shut or does it have a threaded barrel bolt like the Japanese matchlock.
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27th February 2013, 04:45 AM | #3 |
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Location: Denmark
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Thanks for the reply estcrh
Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the breech end of the barrel from the end, just this attached picture from the side. However, it is the sealed shut type with no discernable markings (although you can see the corrosion which might have obliterated any that were once there). |
27th February 2013, 05:38 AM | #4 |
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This definitely is not my area, but I've handled a lot of Japanese matchlocks over the years having seen them at Japanese sword shows. IMHO, this doesn't look Japanese or Chinese to me. It looks more Afganistan or one of the more Arabic regions. Also doesn't look authentically old, more like an aged tourista.
I could be totally wrong and off base, if so, just chalk it up to an old fart showing his ignorance. Rich ========= The Japanese Sword Index http://japaneseswordindex.com |
28th February 2013, 02:15 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
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Friends,
This is an interesting gun. I recommend taking at look at the matchlocks shown in Stone's glossary. I suggest that it is "south" Chinese or Indo-chinese. A neat piece. Peter |
28th February 2013, 05:48 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
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Definitely Chinese/Formosa, to Southeast Asia. Very nice. The hole in the grip, could be for a sling swivel of sorts. The Southeast Asian guns, don't have provision for a rammer.
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27th February 2013, 03:17 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 26
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Chinese ?
At best you might have a made up gun(Old barrel new wood)but even that looks a bit unlikely. I do not think it has any age. As to where it comes from as I don't think it is chinese, will only ever be a guess.
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23rd January 2015, 02:29 PM | #8 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2014
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Quote:
The next one is obviously missed. You meant one band missed - it could be the band with the ring for the thong. I have the similar but a little bit longer matchlock. It was brought to Russia in 1900 by famous scholar Rudakov (he was sent to China to study the Boxers movement). Then it belonged to the late Prof. Artemyev who excavated the fort of Albazin in Amur basin. Then I bought it from his widow. May I use the picture of disassembled gun in my paper regarding matchlocks used for tiger hunting in Manchuria and Korea? I do not want to disassemle mine |
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29th January 2015, 09:11 AM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND
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2 OF MY MONKEY GUNS FROM LAOS
AM PUTTING UP PICTURES OF 2 OF MY MONKEY GUNS FROM LAOS,BOUGHT INTO NEW ZEALAND BY AN AMERICAN C.I.A AGENT POSTED THERE IN THE 70s
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29th January 2015, 03:18 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Very nice BANDOOK!
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30th January 2015, 05:37 AM | #11 |
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Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND
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LAOS MATCHLOCK
THANKS TRENCH,HAS A PART OF MONKEYS TAIL ON THE IGNITION AREA,MAY BE FOR GOOD LOOK OR TALISMAN
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30th January 2015, 03:36 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Yes, all four of mine, have monkey fur frizzen covers.
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