BRIXIA Matchlock Review

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 5, 2025

Hey

So I recently learned the Italian company Brixia has introduced a first for the reproduction black powder market: an Italian-made and CIP proof-tested matchlock musket.

Available at Dixie Gun Works, I decided to buy one. It arrived today:

The fit and finish is good. It’s an absolutely impressive gun. Large, but well balanced and surprisingly handy.

The bore is fantastic. Very smooth, no machine marks. Everything works very well. I believe this is a good representation of an ordnance grade renaissance matchlock musket!

I can’t wait to shoot this and am very happy the Italians are branching out to new black powder guns. I can’t stop handling and holding this thing. Love it!!

think it’s a bit pricey, but I’m sure prices will go down once they recoup R&D and so on. It sure is nice to know this gun was properly proofed in a European laboratory vs hammered together from tubing by peasants in India with no proof testing whatsoever.

It also comes with some slow match which is a great touch. I’ll post a more thorough review after I get it to the range, but overall, I’m very impressed so far. I

Thanks gang!!

-Smokey

russellshaffer · Mar 5, 2025

That surely looks good. What is the bore?

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 5, 2025

russellshaffer said:
That surely looks good. What is the bore?

Thanks! It’s a 20 gauge.

jrweis1997 · Mar 6, 2025

These are pretty cool, are slow matches made by treating rope in something? I have always wondered how that was done.

Flint62Smoothie · Mar 6, 2025

@jrweis1997 - The ingredient to form the burning coal head is saltpeter, aka potassium nitrate.

A simple recipe using 100% cotton cord can be done by immersing a length of the cord in a non-perid correct ziplock bag in which 2 teasoons of real black powder was dissolved. Shake & stir, as those old 'shake & bake' commercials show! Soak for 15-minutes and dry the cord on a flat surface, where the cord MUST be dried flat or the saltpeter will migrate to the lowest end, if hung whilst drying ... where it would act more like a 'fuse' than a lit, coal-head match one is trying to achieve.

There are more complex recipes for when the better cordage is used, i.e., like using braided hemp, where one needs to buck the lignin out of it first, by boiling the cord in a potash solution. 'Cap&Ball', on his YouTube channel, has an excellent video on making this recipe.

TNwalker · Mar 7, 2025

I have one too.
Mine has a few issues but nothing major

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 7, 2025

TNwalker said:
I have one too.
Mine has a few issues but nothing major

What issues? Mine is pretty much flawless.

TommyKid · Mar 7, 2025

Does your muzzle have slight burs like mine? I’m wondering if those should be removed.
Tom

TNwalker · Mar 7, 2025

TommyKid said:
Does your muzzle have slight burs like mine? I’m wondering if those should be removed.
Tom

My front sight is off center
Lots of sharp burrs
The muzzle isn't chamfered and has a ding
There is a gap between the barrel and the stock on one side
One of the barrel pin holes is too big

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 7, 2025

TNwalker said:
My front sight is off center
Lots of sharp burrs
The muzzle isn't chamfered and has a ding
There is a gap between the barrel and the stock on one side
One of the barrel pin holes is too big

My gun has none of those issues.

Italian quality control can be hit or miss as we know.

Out of a curiousness, what serial number is yours? Mine is 00034.

TNwalker · Mar 7, 2025

Smokey Plainsman said:
My gun has none of those issues.

Italian quality control can be hit or miss as we know.

Out of a curiousness, what serial number is yours? Mine is 00034.

00035 lol

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 7, 2025

I just modified the “pan shield” (not sure of the correct term) as it was obscuring almost the entire right side of the rear sight blade.

I cut off about 3/8” and this made a HUGE difference. I can now see the entire rear sight and target acquisition is dramatically improved, yet there’s still plenty left to shield from burning powder.

TommyKid · Mar 7, 2025

00036 for mine.
Tom

deGheyn · Mar 8, 2025

Mine is scheduled to be delivered today.

Here's the Cap and Ball video link:

TommyKid · Mar 8, 2025

Smokey Plainsman said:
View attachment 389761

I just modified the “pan shield” (not sure of the correct term) as it was obscuring almost the entire right side of the rear sight blade.

I cut off about 3/8” and this made a HUGE difference. I can now see the entire rear sight and target acquisition is dramatically improved, yet there’s still plenty left to shield from burning powder.

Great idea. Thank you.
Tom

Smokey Plainsman · Mar 8, 2025

deGheyn said:
Mine is scheduled to be delivered today.

Here's the Cap and Ball video link:

Please share when you get it!

TobJohn · Mar 8, 2025

At this rate, the forum will have enough people to muster a regiment!

TommyKid · Mar 8, 2025

deGheyn said:
Mine is scheduled to be delivered today.

Here's the Cap and Ball video link:

Let’s hope for 00037

deGheyn · Mar 8, 2025

000049 ...and the hammer screw was broken off in shipping. I'm 0 and 2 with shipping in the last month. I'll be calling Dixie Monday. According to the owner's manual, there are parts available for it. That's one of the reasons I sprung for a production piece. It's built like a brick, but supposedly a museum copy. Oh, by the way, in case anyone is wondering... ...GIANT ITALIAN BILLBOARD over 6 inches long on the barrel. I was looking forward to the Spanish style stock matchlock and the snaphaunce. Judging by what I've seen on their facebook page, they all will have the same barrel(and billboard).

Rudyard · Mar 9, 2025

TNwalker said:
My front sight is off center
Lots of sharp burrs
The muzzle isn't chamfered and has a ding
There is a gap between the barrel and the stock on one side
One of the barrel pin holes is too big

Wouldn't worry original users . adds charm to correct of center sight hold it Streight to compensate ' Rudyard who .s made lots .

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