Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - 19th Century East India British Trading Company Flintlock ID?

Jim McDougall · 12th February 2013, 04:25 PM

Thanks very much Richard! and good point on the 'Ottoman' gestalt to the decorative motif. I agree that the style of the gun, as noted by Clemente, seems to resemble the later percussion style guns with the lanyard butt cap etc. I think that Ottoman styling probably well influenced same in areas in India as it did in Arabia and North Africa, simply by the nature of trade and diffusion. The lock seems to be a Khyber product as they were keen on EIC markings, while as far as I know these balemarks were not reproduced much elsewhere. The locks certainly could have moved toward trade entrepots entering various other spheres, but as noted I have seen photos of jezails with this type MOP motif as well.

Interesting note on Indian pistols though with British native cavalry, in the 1880s into 1900s the crossbelt buckles for officers often had prickers styled as arrows incorporated into the ornamentation. I have seen one of the 13th Bengal lancers with this feature, and it seems others as well. Whether simply traditional or functional unsure, but interesting in any case.
All the best,
Jim

12th February 2013, 04:25 PM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Thanks very much Richard! and good point on the 'Ottoman' gestalt to the decorative motif. I agree that the style of the gun, as noted by Clemente, seems to resemble the later percussion style guns with the lanyard butt cap etc. I think that Ottoman styling probably well influenced same in areas in India as it did in Arabia and North Africa, simply by the nature of trade and diffusion. The lock seems to be a Khyber product as they were keen on EIC markings, while as far as I know these balemarks were not reproduced much elsewhere. The locks certainly could have moved toward trade entrepots entering various other spheres, but as noted I have seen photos of jezails with this type MOP motif as well. Interesting note on Indian pistols though with British native cavalry, in the 1880s into 1900s the crossbelt buckles for officers often had prickers styled as arrows incorporated into the ornamentation. I have seen one of the 13th Bengal lancers with this feature, and it seems others as well. Whether simply traditional or functional unsure, but interesting in any case. All the best, Jim Last edited by Jim McDougall; 12th February 2013 at 05:29 PM.