Indian Matchlock with sprung flashpan cover

[stenoyab]

A preservation project, Indian matchlock of good quality with a very unusual sprung loaded flash pan released by a catch on the rear of the stock.

Sadly someone at some time had taken it apart, so one side plate, the trigger guard plate and another plate were missing, the trigger is a later blacksmith addition to repair a broken trigger. Stock was snapped in two and various parts of the wood work were missing. So I've just tried to put it back together so it can survive another 200 years.

When the catch on the stock is lightly touched the pan springs open.

What's also interesting is the fake flash pan on the top, perhaps to allow you to appear to have any empty pan or to have a fake flash in the pan.

The barrel is decorated with fine bands of silver and copper/gold inlay very similar to a Indian Flintlock shown in Firearms of the Islamic World by Robert Elgwood as fig.94, attributed to the maker Seetaram and Sons, from Rajasthan?.