Indian matchlock musket

[fernando]

This piece is 66" long ... very dificult to take pictures of the entire thing.
Thanks to Nidhin, the Indi inscription is already deciphered
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5948
... apart from the meaning of the atribution of Seedhee ( straight ), which i would love to know about.
The "1601" stamp should be the inventory number with which the British used to controll the Maharajas private weaponry stocks.
So far i have learnt that these "toradors" with the curved stock and the reinforced breech barrel are not so frequently found as the others.
The seller said it was 18th century ... i don't know, maybe 1800 ?
Anybody care for some coments on this specimen ?
... Ward ?
... Whoelse ?
Thanks
Fernando

[ward]

Nice piece. I bought a similar piece about 25 years ago and it was my first indian riflle . I still have it. These generally range from about 1750-1870. You do not see them often and yours does seem to be complete. What is the caliber ? does it have the copper site at the end of the barrell? As stupid as it sounds I acutually fired mine a few times at the range. I am happy it did not blow up on me and never hit anything with it. odd delay between lowering the lit cord into the powder and it actually firing. What we do when we are young is not allways very intelligent. I will take some pics of my original one if I do not get home to late tomorrow.Mine has a twist barrell but very similar I also have some painted examples with the same form.

[fernando]

Thanks a lot for your coments, Ward.
The caliber is about 17 m/m. The front site is a pin, which can be seen in the pictures ... a bit bent, though.
Yes, this musket is complete; however the barrel leather bands, being from the period, are old and slack, the heavy barrel becoming some loose. I will have to fix it with a couple extra plastic sealing bands.
As can be seen in one picture,there is a certain "scale" efect on the barrel steel, except for the breech section, which has a slight "twist" aspect, but i wouldn't know if either of them is damascus.
After i bought this piece, i have visited another shop from the same owner, and he had more examples, one being also painted; but it cost almost three times as much as the one i had bought, so i didn't feel much sorry.
I will be expecting to see pictures of your example.
Fernando

[ward]

here you go the silver is very tarnished but it is all there the rosettes are silver also the ratan is original and typical of this type. It is roughly 60 caliber and is made of twist damascus. This one is on the very early edge of the age scale the painted version is in the 1840-1870 range.

[ward]

here is a painted verison. I have other variations but these are the most similar to the one you posted

[fernando]

Thanks a lot for showing such beautyfull examples, Ward.
My humble piece is shy, at seeing yours.
Fernando

[ward]

No it is a good honest piece. I do not meet many people that appreciate a well made piece. Remember that 1st piece I bought many years ago. I paid 250 dollars which was 2 weeks wages back then. I wish I could buy pieces for that now

ward

[fernando]

Given the prices asked in Portugal for old arms, i don't think the cost of this piece was so bad ... 300 Euros.
When you feel like, please send me by email a couple close up pictures of the barrel bands; i would like to see how they made the knots. I know yours are rattan and mine are in leather, bu still i would like to see them.
If you wish to do so, of course.
Fernando

[ward]

give a couple of days and will post pics. you are going to need rawhide and some henna

[fernando]

Thank you so much, Ward.

[ward]

sorry it took me a while to take pics but here are 3 rifles with the proper wrappings for indian pieces

[fernando]

Thank you very very very much Ward, my friend.
I can clearly see the system.
Fernando