MALAYSIAN MATCHLOCK MUSKET FOR COMMENT

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Estcrh.
Yes, I see what you mean. OK, the hole in the breech plug is just to assist with a removal tool. I was also thinking the square hole in the stock is used to keep the breechplug tight in the barrel similar to Japanese matchlocks (?). I was just curious to see if the breechplug design of the Malaysian and Japanese matchlocks were similar. It would not have surprised me if they were.
Rick.

Rick, that is correct on both assumptions I think, although many Japanese matchlock owners have a hard time believing that the barrel bolt (bisen) on their Japanese matchlocks actually can be removed as they are often completely stuck to the point that they sometimes get broken off in the attempt. Some are not square though, I have seen round ended Japanese barrel bolts. Here is a picture of one that I have, it made cleasning the barrel a lot easier.