Abu Futila

[rickystl]

Hi Ibrahiim.

Thank you for posting those two great looking Omani matchlocks. This also gave me the opportunity to re-read your earlier Threads. I find these guns interesting in so many ways. And, I'm probably not alone in finding the barrels the most interesting aspect. With all the decoration, chiseling, and relief work, I can't imagine how long it would take to complete one barrel. I too believe in the Persian heritage vs the German. Although I have seen photos of some of the early to mid 16th Century European matchlock barrels with similar work.

It seems the Omani barrels were made on mandrels, similar to the Indian Torador barrels. With the Omani barrels made in at least two sections. While the two barrels generally look different, they both have large outside diameter breeches and muzzles. I wonder if the interior bores of the Omani barrels follow a similar design of the Torador barrels ? Would be intereswting to know.

Rick

[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.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

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]

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]

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]

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

[rickystl]

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.

[rickystl]

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]

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]

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

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

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

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

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]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Ibrahiim.

Thank you for posting those two great looking Omani matchlocks. This also gave me the opportunity to re-read your earlier Threads. I find these guns interesting in so many ways. And, I'm probably not alone in finding the barrels the most interesting aspect. With all the decoration, chiseling, and relief work, I can't imagine how long it would take to complete one barrel. I too believe in the Persian heritage vs the German. Although I have seen photos of some of the early to mid 16th Century European matchlock barrels with similar work.

It seems the Omani barrels were made on mandrels, similar to the Indian Torador barrels. With the Omani barrels made in at least two sections. While the two barrels generally look different, they both have large outside diameter breeches and muzzles. I wonder if the interior bores of the Omani barrels follow a similar design of the Torador barrels ? Would be intereswting to know.

Rick

The barrels are made up of a number of sections 3 or 4 and blistered together in rudimentary weld style...thus when they part...it must be dramatic. The other technique not generally seen in Oman was wound barrels ..twisted around a core. It is interesting that Elgood outlines the preference for pentagonal barrels from Red Sea sources for imported work for Arabia. I suppose the internal bores are different since the technique for creating the barrels is different but I will have a look at some of my own tomorrow...

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

The barrels are made up of a number of sections 3 or 4 and blistered together in rudimentary weld style...thus when they part...it must be dramatic. The other technique not generally seen in Oman was wound barrels ..twisted around a core. It is interesting that Elgood outlines the preference for pentagonal barrels from Red Sea sources for imported work for Arabia. I suppose the internal bores are different since the technique for creating the barrels is different but I will have a look at some of my own tomorrow...

Hi Ibrahiim.
Thanks for the information. So it does in fact appear that these Omani barrels were made using a different process than the Torador barrels. One day, I might be able to locate one of these Omani barrels that I can purchase or trade for study. Thanks for your comments.

Rick.