2 antique matchlocks

brcampbe · 22nd March 2018, 04:03 PM

Hi, new here and have a decent collection of ethnographic arms. I have had these two antique matchlocks for a while, and I believe one is Tibetan and the other Afghan. The Tibetan one is clad in metal and the stock is leather wrapped, barrel is held on by leather ties. In addition it has a match case and leather sling with what appear to be ancient Chinese coins on it. The Afghan gun is rather plain, barrel held to the stock by iron rings. Both are somewhere in the .50cal range and are smoothbore. Any ideas on time period of these two?

Jens Nordlunde · 22nd March 2018, 08:04 PM

Welcome to the forum.
It must help getting comments on your guns if you show some pictures - so please do so.

Ian · 22nd March 2018, 08:06 PM

Hi br:

Seems as though you had a problem with attaching your pictures. Once you have selected your files in the pop-up window please remember to hit the "Upload Files" button in order to attach the pictures to your post.

Ian.

Treeslicer · 22nd March 2018, 11:15 PM

In case the little messages on the upload box slipped past you, there is a limit of 1280 pixels on the widest/longest side. I just set my widest side to 1279 in Photoshop "Save for Web", and have no problems, though the people squinting at the photos may.

brcampbe · 22nd March 2018, 11:45 PM

Ok guys, got a few up. Will try to resize some more to fit the parameters!

Oliver Pinchot · 23rd March 2018, 01:59 AM

certainly 19th century, possibly earlier

Jon MB · 28th March 2018, 01:05 AM

I agree with Oliver.

Also, typical Central Asian bipod on Tibetan example. Mongolian pieces are similar, but with straighter stocks.

kahnjar1 · 28th March 2018, 08:42 PM

I have held off commenting regarding your "Afghan" matchlock to see what others have to say, but since there has not been any comment, I will do so now.
I believe that your Afghan gun is in fact Omani, and my reason for thinking this is the shape of the stock.
Examples of Afghan and Omani stocks are shown below.....Afghan is #1 and Omani #2.
Note that the curve on the Omani, although similar, is much less than the Afghan.
Stu

rickystl · 31st March 2018, 05:16 PM

I agree with Stu. The stock and the serpentine/pan configuration look Omani.
A nice looking piece.

The Tibetan gun is very interesting, and looks to be complete.

Would like to see more pics of the locks on both.

Nice pieces both.

Rick

22nd March 2018, 08:06 PM	#3
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	Hi br: Seems as though you had a problem with attaching your pictures. Once you have selected your files in the pop-up window please remember to hit the "Upload Files" button in order to attach the pictures to your post. Ian. Last edited by Ian; 22nd March 2018 at 08:23 PM.

28th March 2018, 08:42 PM	#8
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,741	I have held off commenting regarding your "Afghan" matchlock to see what others have to say, but since there has not been any comment, I will do so now. I believe that your Afghan gun is in fact Omani, and my reason for thinking this is the shape of the stock. Examples of Afghan and Omani stocks are shown below.....Afghan is #1 and Omani #2. Note that the curve on the Omani, although similar, is much less than the Afghan. Stu Attached Images

22nd March 2018, 04:03 PM	#1
brcampbe Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 2	2 antique matchlocks Hi, new here and have a decent collection of ethnographic arms. I have had these two antique matchlocks for a while, and I believe one is Tibetan and the other Afghan. The Tibetan one is clad in metal and the stock is leather wrapped, barrel is held on by leather ties. In addition it has a match case and leather sling with what appear to be ancient Chinese coins on it. The Afghan gun is rather plain, barrel held to the stock by iron rings. Both are somewhere in the .50cal range and are smoothbore. Any ideas on time period of these two? Attached Images Last edited by brcampbe; 22nd March 2018 at 11:56 PM.

22nd March 2018, 08:04 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Welcome to the forum. It must help getting comments on your guns if you show some pictures - so please do so.

22nd March 2018, 11:15 PM	#4
Treeslicer Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 65	In case the little messages on the upload box slipped past you, there is a limit of 1280 pixels on the widest/longest side. I just set my widest side to 1279 in Photoshop "Save for Web", and have no problems, though the people squinting at the photos may.

22nd March 2018, 11:45 PM	#5
brcampbe Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 2	Ok guys, got a few up. Will try to resize some more to fit the parameters!

23rd March 2018, 01:59 AM	#6
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	certainly 19th century, possibly earlier

28th March 2018, 01:05 AM	#7
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	I agree with Oliver. Also, typical Central Asian bipod on Tibetan example. Mongolian pieces are similar, but with straighter stocks.

31st March 2018, 05:16 PM	#9
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	I agree with Stu. The stock and the serpentine/pan configuration look Omani. A nice looking piece. The Tibetan gun is very interesting, and looks to be complete. Would like to see more pics of the locks on both. Nice pieces both. Rick