decoration on matchlock

[Chuck Thom]

I refinished my dutch matchlock by sliming it down a little and adding a trigger and trigger guard. I am putting a serpint sideplate in iron of my own design on and would like to add something else in the way of folk art. was such a thing done? or maybe initials or name? beads? tacks? paint? any suggestions would be greatly appreciated the stain is dark. leather butt plate with hand forged nails. thanks ..chuck thom..

 

[robinghewitt]

paint?

Blue perhaps? Dutch William's crack regiment was in blue. They had their matches lit when they entered London to show they meant business, but the Papist King James had already fled to France.

If it's a civilian piece, maybe you should start looking for stag's horn and sharpening up your gravers ::

 

For a dutch piece, groove or notch carving would be a possibility, i.e. geometrical patterns like this:

 

[caliver1642]

If i were going to do anything it would be some bone inlay along the forearm, or along the comb of the stock......something simple that has some "skrimshaw" work on it in a geometric pattern, or something simple


Jim G

 

Probably, there will not be much folk art on such guns, because the normal folks had no access to them.. but I did see dutch matchlocks with said simple carving work.

And once, with a little series of enscribed "X"s on the butt stock :winking: