Did matchlocks ever have touchhole liners installed?

[Sidney Smith]

Or was that method not invented back then? I know a lot original flintlocks had them, but what about matchlocks?

I installed one in the barrel of my matchlock build simply because I had one leftover from a previous flintlock build. I'm not concerned with 100 percent historical accuracy, just curious as to whether they were used.

I want the ease of removal should the touch hole wear out same as with my other muzzleloaders that's why I used a liner. It's one of those kind you file flat so is not noticeable anyway.

 

[Billy-by-gosh]

Or was that method not invented back then? I know a lot original flintlocks had them, but what about matchlocks?

I installed one in the barrel of my matchlock build simply because I had one leftover from a previous flintlock build. I'm not concerned with 100 percent historical accuracy as I've been concerned with 100 percent historical accuracy, just curious as to whether they were used.

I want the ease of removal should the touch hole wear out same as with my other muzzleloaders that's why I used a liner. It's one of those kind ypu file flay so is not noticeable anyway.

Antique arms with original liners were made by enlarging and coning both sides of the touch hole; then using gold or platinum, a liner was cast into place and while hot the reduced cone shape was formed and drilled through. These liners were highly resistant to erosion and corrosion and lasted well. It is possible that some high grade matchlock arms could have been made for wealthy courtesans that requested a lined touch hole by employing the 'noble metal' method herewith.
Your liner is no doubt a screw-in type. Since the earliest matchlock arms were made before screwthreads became commonplace, liners such as yours would have eliminated from that period of time. I don't recall seeing a liner in m-lock weapons, mostly because the pan was dovetailed or soldered onto the barrel itself, and that covered up the touchole.
Conjecture: If I were alive in the 1500s and modifying an iron barrel, I might have heated the soft iron to a red heat and driven a thin tapered punch into the touchole to enlarge the exterior and allow more flash access to powder. In those days gears and screws were too complicated to be widely avaailable, so drilling was done via forging methods.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

It may have been done and if so, I'd likely done well after an arm was originally made, but I've never noticed one. But, @TobJohn, our resident researcher extraordinaire on here ... might not only know, but may have a picture to show!

 

[TobJohn]

I do not know of any. Unfortunately, the person best equipped to answer this passed away a couple of years ago.

Target matchlocks would be the most likely candidate, if the method was used.

I know of an early wheellock that had some sort of plug or damage in the touch hole area that was re drilled, but I will need to double check when I get home from work.

The Graz armory book theorizes it was part of a refurbishment to adapt it to a different lock than its original.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Same here Tob,
I do not know of any in matchlocks from the Normal matchlock period.
For target arms, where matchlocks were used into the mid 17th C at least, I am sure a liner would be used.
For Wheellocks, they too often had a liner, sometimes with two small holes so a forked turnscrew could be used to remove and replace them.
In some wheellock butt traps, there was a place for liners, so they could be changed whenr equired.

W Keith Neil mentions these and shows examples in GBG, 1740-1790

 

[Rudyard]

Or was that method not invented back then? I know a lot original flintlocks had them, but what about matchlocks?

I installed one in the barrel of my matchlock build simply because I had one leftover from a previous flintlock build. I'm not concerned with 100 percent historical accuracy, just curious as to whether they were used.

I want the ease of removal should the touch hole wear out same as with my other muzzleloaders that's why I used a liner. It's one of those kind you file flat so is not noticeable anyway.

Not an easy question Ide say some likley did at some point in its long reign bound too ,if what soldiers had they probably didnt fire them often enough to wear them bigger..
Pardon my asking but was it one of your forebears who baulked Bonapart's designs at the Breach of Acre, in 1799 , the hero of the hour leading a gallant defense .
Regards Rudyard

 

[Rudyard]

I do not know of any. Unfortunately, the person best equipped to answer this passed away a couple of years ago.

Target matchlocks would be the most likely candidate, if the method was used.

I know of an early wheellock that had some sort of plug or damage in the touch hole area that was re drilled, but I will need to double check when I get home from work.
View attachment 284255
The Graz armory book theorizes it was part of a refurbishment to adapt it to a different lock than its original.

I normally put vent liners in such guns , I just put one in heavy old barrel that had been tapped close to 5/16thWW. I hollowed it internally but since it wont be much shot drilled a small vent .Looked like they where in prosses of putting to side plug conversion but luckily it seems never to been fitted & the bore left in good shape .One of the Galloping Majors I think. He did us such great service .Saveing so many from melt down or oblivion .Iv'e made it a mission to put the' other bits back on' to put his barrels into context. (Yer right !) but tis so.
Regards Rudyard