Omani Matchlock Barrel - Abu Fathilah

rickystl · 30th December 2017, 07:52 PM

Were damascus barrels "the norm" for Ottoman shoulder weapons as a whole? I would suspect that they were actually the minority back in their working lives, since their cost made them unaffordable for the back-country hunters or the masses of rank and file troops alike. We see so many of them now because they were the ones that were saved rather than scrapped because of their outstanding appearance.

Good point Philip. I never thought about it that way. Makes sense. Thanks.

Rick

Philip · 11th January 2018, 11:58 PM

Here's an image of two barrels in the Museo di Artiglieria in Turin, both made for guns originally fitted with matchlocks, 16th cent. similar 3-stage format with fluted ends, faceted or round centers, and with flaring muzzles. They are of short carbine length (a pistone), the one with short tang is 17 mm and the other is 24 mm bore diameter. Published in A. Gaibi, Armi da Fuoco Italiane (Milan , 1968), pl 6 d,e.

Pukka Bundook · 12th January 2018, 01:54 PM

Philip,

The barrels you show are very similar to Michael Tromner's barrell (Matchlock)
His was Tusco Emilian C 1525 if I recall correctly.
Also two rifles (I believe both are rifled) once the property of Henry V111 had the same fluting, and interestingly came from the same workshop but 1540's.
I will come back with a link and photo.
BTW,
I have yet to tackle a fluted barrel! If you have details on this work, please let me know. :

Link to Michael's thread;
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Matchlock

As can be seen barrels were getting longer between the 1520's and 40's.

Richard G · 13th January 2018, 05:02 PM

I'm hoping to attach an extract from Egerton
Regards
Richard

rickystl · 13th January 2018, 07:36 PM

Philip: You may be on to something here. So, could it be possible that the origins of the Omani fluted barrels were from Italy in the 16th Century ?
That fluted barrel on the top in the photo is strickingly similar.
It's always been assumed that the Omani fluted barrels had some type of European origin. But it seems to have been about a century earlier than previously thought. Great information. Thanks for posting this.

Richard: Yes, that's the gun from Matchlock's collection that I remembered. The swamped muzzle with the flutes. And also Italian.

This Thread is turning out better than I expected. LOL Thanks for everyone's input. Super interesting.

Rick

11th January 2018, 11:58 PM	#2
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Italian origin of this style of Omani barrel? Here's an image of two barrels in the Museo di Artiglieria in Turin, both made for guns originally fitted with matchlocks, 16th cent. similar 3-stage format with fluted ends, faceted or round centers, and with flaring muzzles. They are of short carbine length (a pistone), the one with short tang is 17 mm and the other is 24 mm bore diameter. Published in A. Gaibi, Armi da Fuoco Italiane (Milan , 1968), pl 6 d,e. Attached Images

12th January 2018, 01:54 PM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Philip, The barrels you show are very similar to Michael Tromner's barrell (Matchlock) His was Tusco Emilian C 1525 if I recall correctly. Also two rifles (I believe both are rifled) once the property of Henry V111 had the same fluting, and interestingly came from the same workshop but 1540's. I will come back with a link and photo. BTW, I have yet to tackle a fluted barrel! If you have details on this work, please let me know. : Link to Michael's thread; http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Matchlock As can be seen barrels were getting longer between the 1520's and 40's. Attached Images Last edited by Pukka Bundook; 12th January 2018 at 02:08 PM.

30th December 2017, 07:52 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Were damascus barrels "the norm" for Ottoman shoulder weapons as a whole? I would suspect that they were actually the minority back in their working lives, since their cost made them unaffordable for the back-country hunters or the masses of rank and file troops alike. We see so many of them now because they were the ones that were saved rather than scrapped because of their outstanding appearance. Good point Philip. I never thought about it that way. Makes sense. Thanks. Rick

13th January 2018, 07:36 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Philip: You may be on to something here. So, could it be possible that the origins of the Omani fluted barrels were from Italy in the 16th Century ? That fluted barrel on the top in the photo is strickingly similar. It's always been assumed that the Omani fluted barrels had some type of European origin. But it seems to have been about a century earlier than previously thought. Great information. Thanks for posting this. Richard: Yes, that's the gun from Matchlock's collection that I remembered. The swamped muzzle with the flutes. And also Italian. This Thread is turning out better than I expected. LOL Thanks for everyone's input. Super interesting. Rick