Getting Into Matchlocks?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Anyone have any advice on getting into matchlocks? Seems to be few if any factory matchlocks available. What ones are about are from India and man it's hard to trust an Indian made gun...

Looking for a 1500's era gun. Can anyone help?

-S.P.

 

[Canute Rex]

Leonard Day in Easthampton MA makes matchlocks, although the ones I have seen (and the one I own) are more 17th century. He has a waiting list, which I hope I am near the top of right now.

Brian Anderson in Bristol Vermont has made a couple of 1500s style snapping matchlocks that I have seen. I fired one and it was neatly put together. They are really nice, but he has a long waiting list.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

I could likely do one, Smokey, but it'd be next winter, as farm work will soon be starting .

Best.
Richard.

 

[DickS]

From the standpoint of making one, the mechanical aspects of a matchlock are pretty straightforward. Getting the styling right is the challenge. There doesn't seem to be much available in the way of good drawings.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Seems very few shoot the matchlocks. I'll bet for every 100 that shoots a flint, maybe 1-2 shoot a match.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Smokey,

Here is a link to the one I rough copied.
It was sold at auction recently;
https://www.hermann-historica.de/e...d=156&Lstatus=0&_=1506871065615&currentpos=34

Actually, these photos are better than Michael's that I went off.

Richard.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Wow, a worm and ball puller from the early 1500s? Really quite amazing that one!

 

[DickS]

That is an outstanding photo spread.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Agreed, DickS.
I wish I had had such detailed photos when I made mine. (One in the "snapping matcklock" thread).

Still pondering doing the big bold file-work on't barrel..

Smokey,

That ball puller I found very charming, having the little horn spacer to centre the puller in the barrel. Very new or 'Immediate" idea really.
Sort of a look into men's thinking in the early 1500's and seeing they thought exactly like us!

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Well had a lead on one and the seller hasn't gotten back to me yet...

 

[spudnut]

so ,did they use sponge for the slowmatch?first Ive seen this

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Spud,

The snapping matchlocks were often termed tinder-locks. In Swedish, "Svamples lit"....Mushroom lock!
The horseshoe fungus we see growing on the base of poplars and birch trees works very well.
You need to trim off the spore part, and use the part that looks like cork. It can be soaked in potash, but I use it as it comes, just dried.
Normally, I just knock some off the trees with the back of the axe, and take them home. leave them in a warm place to dry and slice them up & trim.
When touched with a match they burn very hot and about the speed of slow match. these were used just the once, so do not require to be very long. A piece an inch or so is long enough.

Fot a later sear lock type, the normal hemp slow match is best. Hemp can be bought in about 100 yard rolls and made into matchcord.

Never heard of sponger as such being used....

ATB,
Richard.

 

[spudnut]

the one in the above link looks like sponge in the patch( tool) box.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Spud,

What you see in the but trap is a piece of well worn deer skin, according to Michael Tromner, who owned this piece up to his untimely death. It is merely to prevent the tools from rattling.
If you look at the photos number 4, 5 & 6 in this thread, you can plainly see the pieces of tree fungus in the jaws of the serpent.

All the best,
Richard.

 

[rickystl]

Hi Richard

Those pics you posted in the above Link are wonderful, outstanding photo quality. Thanks for Posting.
Shame Michael's collection had to be broke up. It was truly one of a kind. Miss him much.

Rick