An Extremely Rare 17th Century German Military Match Hider

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

This is the only known detached late 16th or early 17th century match hider, except for a handful of them retained on some of the bandoliers of the Guard of the Electors of Saxony.

Thanks for showing us another rare item. The Japanese also used a similar item for the same purpose and they are also very rare, here is an example.


Hinawa-ire, container to transport a burning cord. It was designed to keep a match cord burning. It also dimmed or hid the glow at night so the enemy could not see the massed enemy matches.

[Matchlock]

As the match was not actually kept 'burning' I prefer the term smoldering.

m

[fernando]

I never knew the precise function of this Indian system.
A match keeper ? Something to compare with the earlier 'smolderer' addressed in this thread ?
... Obviously the match cord in this one is a mediocre solution (a shoe lace, if i remember)

.

[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,

If you mean the brass tube, that's just a lead for the matchcord.

Best,
m

[fernando]

But what is the lower perforated tube for ?

[Matchlock]

For keeping the cord smoldering at both ends, I suppose.

m

[Raf]

Joseph Furtenbach , inventor 1626.
"..that prince or general who ... will first supply my invention to all his troops will surely conquer the Turks- yeo the world, for with them his army will be invincible."
School of the art of gunnery. Augsburg 1643.