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Loading The Matchlock
- Thread starter musketman
- Start date
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Teleoceras
45 Cal.
Musketman:
It does indeed deform the ball quite a bit! :nono:
The only Matchlocks that I heard of with that method was with the rifled Matchlocks.
It does indeed deform the ball quite a bit! :nono:
The only Matchlocks that I heard of with that method was with the rifled Matchlocks.
robinghewitt
62 Cal.
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We are probably talking German target rifles c1600.
Not uncommon because they were posh guns that people tended to keep in the family.
:results:
Not uncommon because they were posh guns that people tended to keep in the family.
:results:
robinghewitt
62 Cal.
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...and Maximillian, mustn't forget Maximillian ::
Teleoceras
45 Cal.
Robin:
Yep, you are correct. Since my focus is more teutonic with my girls, I knew about the rifles from my readings. :RO:
Rifled guns were not too common, but they did exist as there were target matchs and hunts with those wealthy enough to be able to purchase one.
I know in the german states, the Wheellock rifle did supplant the Matchlock rifle among the nobility by the mid-1500's. I guess outside of the Holy Roman Empire, Matchlock rifles were practically non-existant? ::
Even though I am a smoothbore fanatic, it might be fun to try out a Matchlock rifle just to see how accurate I can shoot at long range compared to my later style rifles. :results:
Yep, you are correct. Since my focus is more teutonic with my girls, I knew about the rifles from my readings. :RO:
Rifled guns were not too common, but they did exist as there were target matchs and hunts with those wealthy enough to be able to purchase one.
I know in the german states, the Wheellock rifle did supplant the Matchlock rifle among the nobility by the mid-1500's. I guess outside of the Holy Roman Empire, Matchlock rifles were practically non-existant? ::
Even though I am a smoothbore fanatic, it might be fun to try out a Matchlock rifle just to see how accurate I can shoot at long range compared to my later style rifles. :results:
We are probably talking German target rifles
Not necessarily. I've a book showing a musket used in the English Civil War, though probably in origin, that appears just like other smooth bore matchlock muskets of the day except it's rifled. It is large with a fork and has a small straight trigger with no guard.
Not necessarily. I've a book showing a musket used in the English Civil War, though probably in origin, that appears just like other smooth bore matchlock muskets of the day except it's rifled. It is large with a fork and has a small straight trigger with no guard.
robinghewitt
62 Cal.
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Hi Wes/Tex
Sounds fascinating, which book is that? is it a new book or could you post an image?
best regards
Robin G Hewitt
The book is "The English Civil War 1642-1651 An Illustrated Military History" by Philip Haythornthwaite. It's an English book from Brockhampton Press, London., P.36. Right now I can't get pictures up, got some kind of picture gremlin playing with me. Maybe Tele can do it cause I know where he got his copy! :: Will also add that the musket in question has a flip-up rear sight, sort of like the type seen during the 19th century on military rifles...at least that's what it looks like. It's dated 1619 and the forked rest has a built-in match holder which could presumably double as a linstock. Sort of odd since you wouldn't want matchlocks and artillery playing too close with all that powder laying around!!
SquirrelsaurusR
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What's a linstock?
robinghewitt
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Matchcord on a stick, for lighting a cannon.
I dont claim to know anything about matchlocks, but it seems like loading one with a burning "match" could be pretty dangerous. true? Specially if you have to hit it with a mallet. Did people have lots of unnaturally short fingers back then?
Just curious, thanks, Jeff
Just curious, thanks, Jeff
robinghewitt
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The dangerous bit was when lots of men with lit matches crowded around the budge, (powder barrel) for a refill :shocking:
Modern shooters might use an empty ring-pull can to hang the match in while reloading. Knock a few holes in the side to let the smoke out.
Modern shooters might use an empty ring-pull can to hang the match in while reloading. Knock a few holes in the side to let the smoke out.
One of the shooters at our range uses a spring loaded welders clamp screwed to the downrange end of his shooting bench. For safety's sake, he has his own mobile bench 4 meters away from the nearest flint or percussion shooter (there is also seperate loading bench 3-4 metres to the rear).
Despite all of this caution, last year he managed to blow up his powder flask. The flask was a metal type, but had a bad valve on it. A spark got blown to the rear when he was shooting and the flask detonated about a meter in front of him as he walked back to reload. ::
The poor guy got quite a shock I can tell you! Only a few bits of copper were ever recovered, and the curious thing was the basket work patern off the flask was impressed clear as day on the phenolic-plywood of the table! ::
Despite all of this caution, last year he managed to blow up his powder flask. The flask was a metal type, but had a bad valve on it. A spark got blown to the rear when he was shooting and the flask detonated about a meter in front of him as he walked back to reload. ::
The poor guy got quite a shock I can tell you! Only a few bits of copper were ever recovered, and the curious thing was the basket work patern off the flask was impressed clear as day on the phenolic-plywood of the table! ::
Musketman,
As the guys have said, caution must be used in loading a matchlock. The danger is pre-ignition from a spark from the match. A friend of mine builds very accurate copies of matchlock rifles. He won the black powder rifle match at our last Colinga cannon shoot. I was witness to a couple of scary pre-iginitions when he opened the flash pan cover just before he was to fire the rifle. A spark carried by a breeze from the match in the dog was the cause. After that he always extinguishes his match and relights it prior to firing with a cigarette lighter. My son, also a builder of matchloks, does the same thing with his match between shots. My son's rifle has conventional muzzle loader's rifled barrel. He uses a patched ball. The rest of the gun is an exact copy of one seen in the Duetcher Museum in Nuremberg. It has a blade front sight with a tube rear sight. The stock is made of a type of oak. This makes it heavy. The forked rest comes in handy.
As the guys have said, caution must be used in loading a matchlock. The danger is pre-ignition from a spark from the match. A friend of mine builds very accurate copies of matchlock rifles. He won the black powder rifle match at our last Colinga cannon shoot. I was witness to a couple of scary pre-iginitions when he opened the flash pan cover just before he was to fire the rifle. A spark carried by a breeze from the match in the dog was the cause. After that he always extinguishes his match and relights it prior to firing with a cigarette lighter. My son, also a builder of matchloks, does the same thing with his match between shots. My son's rifle has conventional muzzle loader's rifled barrel. He uses a patched ball. The rest of the gun is an exact copy of one seen in the Duetcher Museum in Nuremberg. It has a blade front sight with a tube rear sight. The stock is made of a type of oak. This makes it heavy. The forked rest comes in handy.
Chuck Thom
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I load my matchlock 8-10 feet behind the firing line with the match on my sword at the firing line. I also wipe the pan after every shot with a damp cloth. I had a brass charger explode in my hand when I primed the pan. a spark must have been in the pan but I didn't see it. Shredded my finger but still have my finger and it still works. Face had powder burns, but can still see, was wearing glasses. still building my own matchlocks and still love shooting them. regards..Chuck Thom
