Abu Futila

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 3rd January 2017, 11:08 PM

See https://books.google.com.om/books?id...20oman&f=false since you may have wondered what was the make up of the Match material where it is described as Quote"soaked in saltpetre found in bat droppings.''Unquote.

Showing below for interest Two blown barrels at the breach...with about 10 inches of barrel left...and another type of powder flask made of Gazelle horn with silver mounts.From the Richardson and Dorr Omani Heritage publication.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th January 2017, 03:08 AM

What came out of the barrel when the gun went off is not what was put in there when it was loaded... Such was the pressure in ramming the bullet that it transformed more into a long solid pipe shaped bullet more like a modern bullet today...about half an inch long +.

In a further anecdote Burton spoke about the tell tale give away when using these weapons in an ambush such was the smoke generated as the match smouldered ....

These weapons gave a hefty kick and it follows that wolf was used both as a Talismanic and as a guard against the Butt catching fire and also used at the Butts end to absorb the recoil.

fernando · 4th January 2017, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

... In a further anecdote Burton spoke about the tell tale give away when using these weapons in an ambush such was the smoke generated as the match smouldered ....

As i already posted some time ago in a thread i don't recall, it was a fact that match cord smoke denounced contenders position; in such a way that determined local forces found it a strategy to keep loose match cord burning in a diverted place to drive the enemy in the wrong direction. The old article from where i have read this, had all signs of integrity.

FOUND IT :

.

Jim McDougall · 4th January 2017, 06:11 PM

Pretty fascinating perspectives on warfare, as most anecdotal stories are typically from firsthand information rather than empirically gleaned material. It is always interesting to hear the often unique and innovative use of diversionary tricks used in warfare. This gives us the dimension to better imagine what these situations were like in the actual use of these weapons.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 4th January 2017, 09:28 PM

I may inject this reference also onto my Martini Henry thread since it is very relevant to the more modern arms which were about to flood into the Arabian Peninsula in the late 19thC through regional ports like Muscat. It is however a corner stone marker of what happened and why to the old Matchlocks favoured for a hundred or more years were at last being superceded.

What the author suggests is extremely interesting in that his thoughts focus upon the slave trade having been a smokescreen to some extent for the vast numbers of guns being moved around for onward transmission to Afghanistan and for bringing pressure on Gulf countries....either way and although it is a hefty document it is well worth viewing for students involved in ethnographic weapons here...

Please therefor see http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cg...en_access_etds

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

3rd January 2017, 11:08 PM	#1
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	See https://books.google.com.om/books?id...20oman&f=false since you may have wondered what was the make up of the Match material where it is described as Quote"soaked in saltpetre found in bat droppings.''Unquote. Showing below for interest Two blown barrels at the breach...with about 10 inches of barrel left...and another type of powder flask made of Gazelle horn with silver mounts.From the Richardson and Dorr Omani Heritage publication. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 3rd January 2017 at 11:43 PM.

4th January 2017, 03:08 AM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	What came out of the barrel when the gun went off is not what was put in there when it was loaded... Such was the pressure in ramming the bullet that it transformed more into a long solid pipe shaped bullet more like a modern bullet today...about half an inch long +. In a further anecdote Burton spoke about the tell tale give away when using these weapons in an ambush such was the smoke generated as the match smouldered .... These weapons gave a hefty kick and it follows that wolf was used both as a Talismanic and as a guard against the Butt catching fire and also used at the Butts end to absorb the recoil.

4th January 2017, 06:11 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Pretty fascinating perspectives on warfare, as most anecdotal stories are typically from firsthand information rather than empirically gleaned material. It is always interesting to hear the often unique and innovative use of diversionary tricks used in warfare. This gives us the dimension to better imagine what these situations were like in the actual use of these weapons.

4th January 2017, 09:28 PM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	I may inject this reference also onto my Martini Henry thread since it is very relevant to the more modern arms which were about to flood into the Arabian Peninsula in the late 19thC through regional ports like Muscat. It is however a corner stone marker of what happened and why to the old Matchlocks favoured for a hundred or more years were at last being superceded. What the author suggests is extremely interesting in that his thoughts focus upon the slave trade having been a smokescreen to some extent for the vast numbers of guns being moved around for onward transmission to Afghanistan and for bringing pressure on Gulf countries....either way and although it is a hefty document it is well worth viewing for students involved in ethnographic weapons here... Please therefor see http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cg...en_access_etds Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.