Ottoman matchlock examples.

[estcrh]

Images of true Ottoman matchlock rifles/muskets are rare, I have gathered all of the publically available images I know of and posted them here for reference. If anyone has any information or additional images feel free to post them here. It is not uncommon to see Arab or Indian matchlocks etc mistakenly identified as being Ottoman, which is understandable since there are not many real images available to compare to.

[Kubur]

Hi
You are so right.
To me the Arab matchlocks are just the continuation or copies of Ottoman matchlocks, it's the reason why they are so similar.
Best,
Kubur

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi
You are so right.
To me the Arab matchlocks are just the continuation or copies of Ottoman matchlocks, it's the reason why they are so similar.
Best,
Kubur

Kuber, you are probably right, the Ottoman involvement in both Arab lands and India is well documented. What is hard to understand is the almost complete disappearance of Ottoman matchlocks, even Arab matchlocks are not very common while Indian matchlocks are easy to find.

I have read about Individual bedouin tribes that could gather together thousands of matchlock armed men, and the Ottomans used matchlocks in the thousands for several hundered years, were did they all go?

Here is some information on the early use of Ottoman matchlocks from:Ottoman firearms, Janissary matchlocks and flintlocks. "Guns for the Sultan: Military Power and the Weapons Industry in the Ottoman Empire", by Gábor Ágoston, Cambridge University Press, Mar 24, 2005.

[Kubur]

Yep
Also during the 19th a lot of flintlocks have been turn into percussion.
We can assume also that a lot of matchlocks have been turn into flintlocks...

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Yep
Also during the 19th a lot of flintlocks have been turn into percussion.
We can assume also that a lot of matchlocks have been turn into flintlocks...

Kuber, the same could be said for Indian matchlocks as well but somehow many of those have survived, there has to be a better reason why so few Ottoman matchlocks are still around.

Here is some interesting information on the influence of the Ottomans on Indian firearms, it is surprising that the Indian matchlock does not look more like the Ottoman version. I do know of one matchlock that is supposed to be Indian but has an distinctly Ottoman look.

Indian matchlock gun, probably late 18 to early 19 C. 47 inch barrel forged from fine twisted steel (Damascus), with a makers mark and decorated with gold inlay work (worn). Wood stock mounted with steel plates, decorated with ivory inserts and ivory butt . Chiseled muzzle, barrel is reinforced to the stock with bands of leather strips (added later), length 62 inches. The barrel looks older than the stock, probably a secondary use for it, the stock is repaired at the tip.

Ottoman influence of Indian firearms. "The Heirs of Archimedes: Science and the Art of War Through the Age of Enlightenment", by Brett D. Steele, MIT Press, 2005.

[rickystl]

Hi Estcrh.
What an interesting question, and topic for discussion. I've never really thought of it till now. But you're right. I've seen only a handful or less of photos of matchlocks that can be identified as Ottoman. We know from historical records that the matcklocks were used by the Ottomans in large quantities. But as you ask: Where did they go? I don't know. A really good question. Yes, you would think more examples would still exist. I can't even come up with a good theory. LOL.
We know the Ottomans adopted the flintlock, in miquelet form very early after it's introduction. That could account for some of the lack of matchlock specimens today. And converting matchlocks to miquelet may account for some more. And most of the Ottoman Empire firearms I've seen in person or photos all seem to be from the 19th or late 18th Century. So that might also be taken into account. But all that doesn't really answer the question of why SO FEW Ottoman matchlock specimens remain today. You have my brain tied in knots trying to come up with a logical answer. Hmmmmm.
One thing interesting to note about these matchlocks: Wheather Ottoman, Arab, Indian, etc., the trigger/bar to serpentine mechanism are virtually identical on every specimen I've seen. I've never seen one of these guns with a late style European or Japanese style "snapping" matchlock mechanism. So that style must have been consider reliable enough to become standardized accross the Empire.
Rick.

[galvano]

link galvano

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...oman+matchlock

[cyten]

Just adding to the reference

[bobi13]

here is also from my archive.

[bobi13]

Here is also from my archive.

[cyten]

One with provenance: A 16th century example that belonged to Bogdan Yakoblevich Belsky