Indian/Afghan/Islamic Flintlocks & Mathclocks. Any interest?

mattf33 · 16th July 2008, 05:15 PM

That is an awesome collection. Here are some pics of my Afghan Jezail. Finally figured out how to compress them so i can post. I have 2 others that are similar to the ornate display gun in the first pic of this post. I am currently in Afghanistan and have been collecting these guns and shipping them back home as well as antique powder measures and powder flasks.

mattf33 · 16th July 2008, 05:30 PM

couple more

chevalier · 17th July 2008, 02:59 PM

...so has anyone ever fired one of these?

Atlantia · 17th July 2008, 03:28 PM

Thats a nice one Chevalier!
Similar lock to mine.
Lovely carved steel ramrod!!! I'm gonna have to make ramrods for all of mine! 0 out of 3 still having them!

I've never fired one of these.
But my interest in guns stems from when I was a kid and a family friend (huge gun collector) let me fire a big flint dueling pistol (really nice early one, be worth a bundle now, he had several cased pairs).
I was about 8 or 9 and it was almost as long as my arm.
He used to shoot a railway sleeper in a big double garage with his guns (it was the 70s! I know the police would shoot him for that now).
I pulled the trigger (struggling to hold it out with both arms) and it went 'CLICK'.......'Fizzzzzzzzz'........and in that second I thought "hmm, its not going to fire" and relaxed....
BOOOM!
LOL.
Very scary, smelly, loud!

And there was a new beam of sunlight like a mini spotlight coming through the back wall of the garage.

Loved them ever since!
Never fired another sadly.
I've got a beautiful muff-pistol which would probobly take the pressure.
In fact I have a matchlock which might!
Hmmm, I'll post pictures of them later.

ward · 17th July 2008, 06:59 PM

When I mas much younger and stupider I fired one of the Indian matchlocks at the range. firing a 230 year old weapon is not something I would recommend to anyone. You lower the match into the pan wait a few seconds than the pan ignites and then in a few seconds the weapon fires a 70 caliber ball, I never managed to hit a target with it. Now somethng fun to fire is the broomhandle pistol or the german lugar.

ward · 17th July 2008, 07:06 PM

I will remind people that these guns are mechanical damascus and usually heavily pitted if there are any flaws in the barrell it can blow up and kill you. Also do not ever use modern gun powders or pyredex. Black powder is the only thing to use and there are diffect grain sizes of it and it is dangerous to handle if you are not used to it. Again I do not recommend it

Atlantia · 17th July 2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

I will remind people that these guns are mechanical damascus and usually heavily pitted if there are any flaws in the barrell it can blow up and kill you. Also do not ever use modern gun powders or pyredex. Black powder is the only thing to use and there are diffect grain sizes of it and it is dangerous to handle if you are not used to it. Again I do not recommend it

Almost all functioning firearms are illegal over here now.
Even black powder stuff for reinactment is very strictly controlled.
I have a replica broomhandle, you can't even buy new ones of them (or any replica firearms) over here now, not even plastic ones unless they come painted signal orange or some other daft colour.

Of course the most missused 'legal' firearms in the UK have always been shotguns, but they didn't ban them because the rich do love to slaughter the wildlife with them!

I wouldn't be suprised if soon we'll all be eating with plastic forks and spoons (even plastic knives will be banned!).

16th July 2008, 05:15 PM	#1
mattf33 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: tennessee Posts: 6	That is an awesome collection. Here are some pics of my Afghan Jezail. Finally figured out how to compress them so i can post. I have 2 others that are similar to the ornate display gun in the first pic of this post. I am currently in Afghanistan and have been collecting these guns and shipping them back home as well as antique powder measures and powder flasks. Attached Images

16th July 2008, 05:30 PM	#2
mattf33 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: tennessee Posts: 6	couple more Attached Images

17th July 2008, 02:59 PM	#3
chevalier Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 119	...so has anyone ever fired one of these?

17th July 2008, 03:28 PM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Thats a nice one Chevalier! Similar lock to mine. Lovely carved steel ramrod!!! I'm gonna have to make ramrods for all of mine! 0 out of 3 still having them! I've never fired one of these. But my interest in guns stems from when I was a kid and a family friend (huge gun collector) let me fire a big flint dueling pistol (really nice early one, be worth a bundle now, he had several cased pairs). I was about 8 or 9 and it was almost as long as my arm. He used to shoot a railway sleeper in a big double garage with his guns (it was the 70s! I know the police would shoot him for that now). I pulled the trigger (struggling to hold it out with both arms) and it went 'CLICK'.......'Fizzzzzzzzz'........and in that second I thought "hmm, its not going to fire" and relaxed.... BOOOM! LOL. Very scary, smelly, loud! And there was a new beam of sunlight like a mini spotlight coming through the back wall of the garage. Loved them ever since! Never fired another sadly. I've got a beautiful muff-pistol which would probobly take the pressure. In fact I have a matchlock which might! Hmmm, I'll post pictures of them later.

17th July 2008, 06:59 PM	#5
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	When I mas much younger and stupider I fired one of the Indian matchlocks at the range. firing a 230 year old weapon is not something I would recommend to anyone. You lower the match into the pan wait a few seconds than the pan ignites and then in a few seconds the weapon fires a 70 caliber ball, I never managed to hit a target with it. Now somethng fun to fire is the broomhandle pistol or the german lugar.

17th July 2008, 07:06 PM	#6
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	I will remind people that these guns are mechanical damascus and usually heavily pitted if there are any flaws in the barrell it can blow up and kill you. Also do not ever use modern gun powders or pyredex. Black powder is the only thing to use and there are diffect grain sizes of it and it is dangerous to handle if you are not used to it. Again I do not recommend it