Matchlock flash in the pan !

thinreadline · 30th June 2012, 03:51 PM

Just for fun I was out this morning with my matchlock on the local military range much to the amusement of more modern warriors armed with the SA80 !

M ELEY · 1st July 2012, 05:44 AM

That's pretty awesome, actually. I like the gun rest as well- nice touch. I can only imagine the looks on their faces=

Of course, if you had had one of the really old handgonnes, now that would have been a real sight! If I ever get a lantaka or swivel gun, I'll have to keep this option in mind...

Matchlock · 1st July 2012, 11:27 AM

Hi Mark and Richmond,

I have often fired 'real' 400-year-old muskets from my collection.

Attached is a photo of me firing a combined wheellock and matchlock musket of ca. 1660, using the wheel ignition, in 1997.
The musket was almost identical to the two samples from the same series shown in the following photos:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...lock+matchlock

Enjoy.

Best,
Michael

M ELEY · 1st July 2012, 01:51 PM

Holy cr#p, Michael! That is quite a little spark produced by that wheellock. I had no idea it made such a flame. It looks like you are indoors there. Were you in the process of 'creating' a new window?

I assume an empty barrel, yes?
Mark

Matchlock · 1st July 2012, 03:41 PM

Right, Mark,

It was indoors and the barrel was empty, so it actually was a flash in the pan - that time.

A friend attended my collection and when I demonstrated spontaneously that all my muskets were still in working order he took this photo.

I fired several of my guns on a shooting range various times though - and with balls!

Best,
Michael

thinreadline · 1st July 2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Right, Mark,

It was indoors and the barrel was empty - that time.

A friend attended my collection and when I demonstrated spontaneously that all my muskets were still in working order he took this photo.

I fired several of my guns on a shooting range various times though - and with balls!

Best,
Michael

Fantastic Michael .. you need 'balls' to fire that ! Brilliant
Richmond

Matchlock · 1st July 2012, 06:50 PM

Thanks, Richmond,

Well, looks like I got them, as well as guts ...

Actually it is not that dangerous as long as the barrel is in good overall condition.
In my experience, even a thick stable layer of inside rust does not really matter, considering the enormously thick barrel walls of 16th and 17th c. muskets which have an average weight of ca. 6-9 kgs. The heaviest matchlock musket I ever handled, Suhl made, dated 1636, is in my collection. It weighs in almost 10 kgs (the barrel alone 8 kgs), it is not a wall gun - and I fired it! Due to its enormous weight I remember the recoil was very soft.
Actually getting it ignited was not exactly easy because of the thick barrel walls; I had to fill priming powder into the touch hole until it was literally flowing over!
And: aiming a monster like that makes you understand while the old musketeers employed a rest ...

In the 1980's, the staff of the Graz armory, Styria, undertook a major project recorded both in a catalog and on VHS video, firing 200-400 year-old flintlock, wheellock and matchlock muskets, and flintlock and wheellock pistols, all from their collections. OK, it is true they had them officially proofed before, and the barrels got struck with modern proof stamps as well - which in my eyes is cruel.

m

thinreadline · 1st July 2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Thanks, Richmond,

Well, looks like I got them, as well as guts ...

Actually it is not that dangerous as long as the barrel is in good overall condition.
In my experience, even a thick stable layer of inside rust does not really matter, considering the enormously thick barrel walls of 16th and 17th c. muskets which have an average weight of ca. 6-9 kgs. The heaviest matchlock musket I ever handled, Suhl made, dated 1636, is in my collection. It weighs almost 10 kgs (the barrel alone 8 kgs), it is not a wall gun - and I fired it! Due to its enormous weight I remember the recoil was very soft.
And: aiming a monster like that you understand while the old musketeers employed a rest ...

In the 1980's, the staff of the Graz armory, Styria, undertook a major project recorded both in a catalog and on VHS video, firing 200-400 year-old flintlock, wheellock and matchlock muskets, and flintlock and wheellock pistols, all from their collections. OK, it is true they had them officially proofed before, and the barrels got struck with modern proof stamps as well - which in my eyes is cruel.

m

Yes thats interesting Michael .. I am all for these old guns being fired . I shoot many original blackpowder guns but simply cannot afford an original English matchlock , which is why I had this replica made. I agree that the weight of these pieces has a very beneficial effect of reducing recoil and my replica weighs in at 6kg .. but it always surprises people that its 'kick' is so soft .
I too find it sad that the historic pieces you refer to had been stamped with modern proof marks ... I hope they stamped themin a discreet position.

Matchlock · 1st July 2012, 07:59 PM

Far from that, Richmond,

They stamped those barrels clearly visible: on top, and right next to the original 400 year-old proof and smiths' marks ...

That's what I call a cruel thing to do.

Btw, you might have missed an addition I made editing my post:

Actually getting it ignited was not exactly easy because of the thick barrel walls; I had to fill priming powder into the touch hole until it was literally flowing over!

m

rickystl · 2nd July 2012, 08:10 PM

Hi Michael. FANTASTIC !!!! The photo caught that wheel turning at just the right momment. Nothing beats the experience of firing an original. Although most collectors would be terrified to shoot an original. I too am a black powder shooter. But, I'm trying to imagine the experience of firing an ORIGINAL 400+ year old gun. Only in my dreams.

Thanks for posting!!!!! Rick.

bluelake · 31st July 2012, 11:40 PM

Back at the beginning of June, I had to demonstrate a Korean/Japanese style matchlock for Korea's KBS TV, for their show, "History Special".

Here is a video my wife took of the TV crew taping me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZOMwOlft0

Here is what the TV crew did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYCAp1DK2PY

It went o.k., but there were a few misfires and hangfires (like the 10-sec. one in the KBS clip).

30th June 2012, 03:51 PM	#1
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Matchlock flash in the pan ! Just for fun I was out this morning with my matchlock on the local military range much to the amusement of more modern warriors armed with the SA80 ! Attached Images

1st July 2012, 11:27 AM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Mark and Richmond, I have often fired 'real' 400-year-old muskets from my collection. Attached is a photo of me firing a combined wheellock and matchlock musket of ca. 1660, using the wheel ignition, in 1997. The musket was almost identical to the two samples from the same series shown in the following photos: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...lock+matchlock Enjoy. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 1st July 2012 at 11:37 AM.

1st July 2012, 03:41 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Right, Mark, It was indoors and the barrel was empty, so it actually was a flash in the pan - that time. A friend attended my collection and when I demonstrated spontaneously that all my muskets were still in working order he took this photo. I fired several of my guns on a shooting range various times though - and with balls! Best, Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 1st July 2012 at 07:29 PM.

1st July 2012, 06:50 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thanks, Richmond, Well, looks like I got them, as well as guts ... Actually it is not that dangerous as long as the barrel is in good overall condition. In my experience, even a thick stable layer of inside rust does not really matter, considering the enormously thick barrel walls of 16th and 17th c. muskets which have an average weight of ca. 6-9 kgs. The heaviest matchlock musket I ever handled, Suhl made, dated 1636, is in my collection. It weighs in almost 10 kgs (the barrel alone 8 kgs), it is not a wall gun - and I fired it! Due to its enormous weight I remember the recoil was very soft. Actually getting it ignited was not exactly easy because of the thick barrel walls; I had to fill priming powder into the touch hole until it was literally flowing over! And: aiming a monster like that makes you understand while the old musketeers employed a rest ... In the 1980's, the staff of the Graz armory, Styria, undertook a major project recorded both in a catalog and on VHS video, firing 200-400 year-old flintlock, wheellock and matchlock muskets, and flintlock and wheellock pistols, all from their collections. OK, it is true they had them officially proofed before, and the barrels got struck with modern proof stamps as well - which in my eyes is cruel. m Last edited by Matchlock; 1st July 2012 at 08:38 PM.

1st July 2012, 07:59 PM	#9
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Far from that, Richmond, They stamped those barrels clearly visible: on top, and right next to the original 400 year-old proof and smiths' marks ... That's what I call a cruel thing to do. Btw, you might have missed an addition I made editing my post: Actually getting it ignited was not exactly easy because of the thick barrel walls; I had to fill priming powder into the touch hole until it was literally flowing over! m Last edited by Matchlock; 2nd July 2012 at 01:29 AM.

1st July 2012, 05:44 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,089	That's pretty awesome, actually. I like the gun rest as well- nice touch. I can only imagine the looks on their faces= Of course, if you had had one of the really old handgonnes, now that would have been a real sight! If I ever get a lantaka or swivel gun, I'll have to keep this option in mind...

1st July 2012, 01:51 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,089	Holy cr#p, Michael! That is quite a little spark produced by that wheellock. I had no idea it made such a flame. It looks like you are indoors there. Were you in the process of 'creating' a new window? I assume an empty barrel, yes? Mark

2nd July 2012, 08:10 PM	#10
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Hi Michael. FANTASTIC !!!! The photo caught that wheel turning at just the right momment. Nothing beats the experience of firing an original. Although most collectors would be terrified to shoot an original. I too am a black powder shooter. But, I'm trying to imagine the experience of firing an ORIGINAL 400+ year old gun. Only in my dreams. Thanks for posting!!!!! Rick.

31st July 2012, 11:40 PM	#11
bluelake Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gyeongsan, South Korea Posts: 57	Back at the beginning of June, I had to demonstrate a Korean/Japanese style matchlock for Korea's KBS TV, for their show, "History Special". Here is a video my wife took of the TV crew taping me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZOMwOlft0 Here is what the TV crew did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYCAp1DK2PY It went o.k., but there were a few misfires and hangfires (like the 10-sec. one in the KBS clip).