![]() |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
|
![]()
Images of true Ottoman matchlock rifles/muskets are rare, I have gathered all of the publically available images I know of and posted them here for reference. If anyone has any information or additional images feel free to post them here. It is not uncommon to see Arab or Indian matchlocks etc mistakenly identified as being Ottoman, which is understandable since there are not many real images available to compare to.
Last edited by estcrh; 4th December 2015 at 08:01 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
|
![]()
Hi
You are so right. To me the Arab matchlocks are just the continuation or copies of Ottoman matchlocks, it's the reason why they are so similar. Best, Kubur |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
|
![]() Quote:
I have read about Individual bedouin tribes that could gather together thousands of matchlock armed men, and the Ottomans used matchlocks in the thousands for several hundered years, were did they all go? Here is some information on the early use of Ottoman matchlocks from:Ottoman firearms, Janissary matchlocks and flintlocks. "Guns for the Sultan: Military Power and the Weapons Industry in the Ottoman Empire", by Gábor Ágoston, Cambridge University Press, Mar 24, 2005. Last edited by estcrh; 5th December 2015 at 09:37 AM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,145
|
![]()
Yep
Also during the 19th a lot of flintlocks have been turn into percussion. We can assume also that a lot of matchlocks have been turn into flintlocks... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 | ||
Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,497
|
![]() Quote:
Here is some interesting information on the influence of the Ottomans on Indian firearms, it is surprising that the Indian matchlock does not look more like the Ottoman version. I do know of one matchlock that is supposed to be Indian but has an distinctly Ottoman look. Quote:
Ottoman influence of Indian firearms. "The Heirs of Archimedes: Science and the Art of War Through the Age of Enlightenment", by Brett D. Steele, MIT Press, 2005. Last edited by estcrh; 5th December 2015 at 05:00 PM. |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO area.
Posts: 1,623
|
![]()
Hi Estcrh.
What an interesting question, and topic for discussion. I've never really thought of it till now. But you're right. I've seen only a handful or less of photos of matchlocks that can be identified as Ottoman. We know from historical records that the matcklocks were used by the Ottomans in large quantities. But as you ask: Where did they go? I don't know. ![]() We know the Ottomans adopted the flintlock, in miquelet form very early after it's introduction. That could account for some of the lack of matchlock specimens today. And converting matchlocks to miquelet may account for some more. And most of the Ottoman Empire firearms I've seen in person or photos all seem to be from the 19th or late 18th Century. So that might also be taken into account. But all that doesn't really answer the question of why SO FEW Ottoman matchlock specimens remain today. You have my brain tied in knots trying to come up with a logical answer. Hmmmmm. One thing interesting to note about these matchlocks: Wheather Ottoman, Arab, Indian, etc., the trigger/bar to serpentine mechanism are virtually identical on every specimen I've seen. I've never seen one of these guns with a late style European or Japanese style "snapping" matchlock mechanism. So that style must have been consider reliable enough to become standardized accross the Empire. Rick. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 178
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Caucasus
Posts: 92
|
![]()
Just adding to the reference
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 25
|
![]()
here is also from my archive.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 25
|
![]()
Here is also from my archive.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Caucasus
Posts: 92
|
![]()
One with provenance: A 16th century example that belonged to Bogdan Yakoblevich Belsky
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|