Artax matchlock.

[sverre]

Does anybody have any experience with the matchlocks from Artax in Italy??
Their site has been down for a couple of years and they dont respond to e-mail.

I am most probably going to buy a ropeburner so any info would be great.
Calibers?
Need tuning?? (most Italy guns do :hmm: )
Quality?

Talk about going backwards in time

 

[arilar]

Hi Sharps,
I bought the Artax matchlock 3 years back. Wonderful gun to compete with. Very accurate grouping, fast ignition et.c :applause: . But...... finish on my gun is awful :cursing: . For this weekend I am with family on visit to relatives. Getting back with more details in a couple of days. BTW Artax Internet-site has never been working. I got fast replys on e-mail 2 years back.
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[Bookie]

Hejsan Arilar! Would you share a photo of your matchlock with us? Tack och mvh, Bookie

 

[arilar]

Hi Bookie,
I dont have a digital-camera and dont know how to put photos in the Forum. But.... I will try to convince a friend having a dig.camera, to take the photos and maybe I can e-mail them to somebody that can make the last job. Getting back on the subject :thumbsup:
ARILAR :grin:

 

[spitfire]

Here's the Link to posting Photos on the Forum .Musketman is the expert.He could help you if you have problems.Just private topic him! :winking:

 

Musketman isn't the only moderator who knows how to post a photo here.

CP
Pre-Flintlock Moderator

 

Is that their cal.50 snapping match lock? I have a short test in a magazine and it did OK there. Best results (75mm at 50m) were obtained with 80 grains Swiss Nr. 2 powder and a .490 ball with patch + wad. But they do mention that the finish could be better.

Robert

 

[arilar]

They call the model Zodiac and mine is a .44 caliber. My best result (94 points in Hizadai-event. Kneeling 50 meters.) at last years European Champs. I used Swiss fffg 78 grains and .432 bullets out of a Lee-mold. Ox-Yoke patches 0.010 soaked in tap-water and polenta as filler. Bookie, this afternoon a friend coming over to take digital-pictures on the gun. Hope to be able to show them here (Clay-pipe or Musketman seems to have the knowledge if Spitfires "Link" doesnt work).
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

A shop here sent me a picture of the Zodiak now but said that they took it out of the program because of bad business hendling by Artax, and because of constant unpredictable changes. So this may differ from yours (it would be interesting to compare the two if you have a picture).

It looks a bit like a remake of the Hege matchlock that was top quality (and price) but discontinued a few years ago.

 

[arilar]

Robert,
For some years I used Hege:s matchlock. Yes,good quality but never liked the butt against my shoulder and very much to heavy in front. Not a good balanced. Zodiac so much easier to shoot with extremly well balance and quality lock. But....poor finish and sometimes poor fitting. Funny,the Zodiac you show differs a lot in look. The one a finnish shooter and a norwegian fellow had was also both "one of a kind". I will try to e-mail some photos of mine. Please try to post them here.
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

Here goes.. I had to reduce a bit in size. I remember that the Hege was very long with a straight octagone barrel.

 

[sverre]

Things are moving fast in the north. :grin:
I just bought an Artax ropegun from a fellow shooter here, and I will recieve it over the weekend.
Thanks for the photos.

Arilar, we`ll meet in Musse if you are going.

 

[arilar]

Thanks Robert for help posting :bow: !!
Sorry Sharps, I am not going to Nordic Champs in Musse, Denmark. Hope you have success with the Artax. Myself instead hedding for World Champs in Bordeaux. Cant resist trying with my original Teppo and this time leaving Artax back home :youcrazy:
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[Bob Riegl]

While I am never to be known as PC, I guess those two matchlocks are the black powder answer to the modern aluminium stocked Anschutz & Walther Free rifles. The only things missing are adjustable cheek pieces and buttplates. They have the set trigger and a "palm rest" of sorts. I kind of prefer the "clubs" that the guys here in the U.S.A.with all their crudeness, more fun IMHO.Some how hanging a matchlock with all that much, much more modern technology, has sacrificed authenticity for the ability to score higher. Do these guns also feature modern day rifling as well?? Not my personal cup of tea. :yakyak:

 

[Bookie]

Hi Sharps! My apprentice, Henrik Elmer lives in Bandholm and is president of the De Falsterske Sortkrudtsskytter. When you see him at Musse, tell him Bookie said Hej!! I have just sent his Journeyman's certificate to him and he becomes the first Dansk traditional gunsmith in years. I'm proud of him. If you have never been to the range at Lille Musse, you'll like it. Been there 3 times. Cheers, Bookie

 

[arilar]

My Artax Zodiac is smoothbore. I really enjoy shooting the Artax as well as my Swedish military matchlock m.1620 (made by Magnus Wiberg).
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[spitfire]

Nice gun.What is the Bore size and more importantly how does it shoot? :hmm:

 

[arilar]

Nice gun.What is the Bore size and more importantly how does it shoot? :hmm:

Spitfire,
Sorry if I caused confusion. Robert helped me post pictues on my Artax Zodiac. Answers on your question is above in post 249712. :v
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[spitfire]

Thanks and no problem :thumbsup: !