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

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by ward

yes the end of yours should be hollow and when the match needs to be extinquished is put into the end of it. The omani is a lot more unusual and you should restore it you will not find many of them in todays market.that piece should be under the coiled match.

Salaams Ward, Nice collection.
The Omani weapon is known in Oman as "father of the match." Abu Futtila. The other term is Roumi meaning "long leaf" or "spear." Often wolf skin was wrapped around the cannon section where you rest your cheek on firing . Woolf skin was used to protect the wearer from evil spirits and or as strong talismanic majic. They are very rare now especially with the brass fire spoon and with original brass charge holders and belts. There are 3 types of gunpowder flask in either Gazelle horn, wood or Omani silver( Talahiiq). The Omanis made their own ammo and gunpowder .. The later from an odd looking plant called Sodoms apple which is a poisonous green leafed prolific monster with purple flowers growing wild here and mixed with locally mined sulphur etc. People clearly experimented with modern powders in the 20th C as I have several cannon ends only since modern gunpowder blows the first barrel weld and must have been hugely dangerous.
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.