Matchlock

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I have built a coupls kits in the past and now I am ready to move along.
I have begun gathering metal and wood to build a matchlock. It will be the absolute simplest I can manage. I am in Peru South America and there is not much available. This makes it all the more challenging to me.
Wood is easy... I have several types of rainforest woods that resemble walnut.
The actual lock parts again no problem.
The barrel IS gonna be the real challenge. Best item I have come up with so far is the long tie rod connector off a Samuri Suzuki. I have no idea what the actual "Tube Wall" thickness is but I think I can drill a small hole in it to measure that. The metal quality is Origonal Jap. No seams.
So what do ya think ? I know the origonals were just iron and I like to think todays steel is better quality. How thick should the barrel wall be in your opinion? Is there a formula to use? This tube has a usable length of 33" OD is 1" and it is off a Samuri Suzuki 4 wheel drive military model so it must be good steel.
I understand I am asking for opinions and you will not offend me. Importing a barrel is not an option.
I have been around ML since I was a little feller... I plan to be around alot longer to.
Thanks !!!

 

[TNHillbilly]

What's the worst thing that can happen? Doesn't work...why I don't know.......you build it and some day replace the barrel. I'm a bit confused about the rod: is it solid steel now or is there some 'hole' through it. If it's 1" OD, what do you plan on winding up with? I'd guess if you stayed around .36 cal, you'd be OK. Is it a tapered barrel you're after, swamped, straight octagon? Are you going to try and drill through, or get a machine shop to do it. My guess is a smaller hole and then ream to finished size. I lived in Lima awhile back in the '80's and was amazed at how industrious those folks were! Not sure where you're at. I have some Yellowheart from down there I'm using for my wheellock pistol. Maybe Wolf will 'pipe' in here, if anyone can offer some ideas, he can!

 

[missionary5155]

Hey Greetings TnHills...
I am in Arequipa down south 600 miles from Lima.
I lived in Chattanooga 6 years while at Tenn Temple Bible College.
The "Rod" has to be hollow somewhat as it just does not have the wieght of a solid rod. I am going to drill through it near the welded on tie rod and see how thick the walls is. I am thinking if need be I can always get another hollow steel rod and solder it to the outside for about a foot at the braech area and then heve that turned down to some descent roundness... Maybe file it Octagon.
You are corect about the williness to do anything possible down here. Everything is possible... It just may not end up to pretty or safe. I have been here 24 years now and seen amazing stuff put together.
Well thanks ...
God Bless yall Mike in Peru

 

[wulf]

I don't know about adding a piece on and welding
it in place..One piece would be best even if you
have to have a shorter barrel. The first barrels
I used were Plymouth steering columns which had
a 1/2" bore...They worked..Saw off the end where
the rod tapers and has the bolt on arrangement and
see what the tube looks like,,Thats what I did..
But the re-building of a barrel sounds dangerous.
Good to see your back Tenn Hills Guy.

 

[missionary5155]

Greetings Wulf
Thanks for the commo. I guess I did not explain the added on piece to well. My thought was to place it around the breach area making that THICKER then shaping it some.
But a steering colunm .. I had not thought about that chunck of steel. Gives me somethiing else to be looking for. Maybe a pickup truck would fit the need also.
It turned out the front end tie rod connector I was looking at is a solid bar. So I will continue the hunt fir something already with some hole size.
I am thinking of a Cavalier type matchlock. I want basic light wieght as I want to use it as a walking about piece and try some bird hunting. I hope to come up with about and 60 caliber with at least a 32+ " barrel.
The vent hole... about what distance is that lets say from the face ? 8" or so...
Mike in Peru
God Bless ya !

 

[bioprof]

Don't know if this would be an option for you, but I know of several people that make barrels from DOM tubing. You could make a barrel if you could get ahold of some of that.

 

[ChrisPer]

I saw a good octagon barrel hand-filed from a Model T steering column.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Mike,
Having been there that long you certainly could have inquired about the legality of your project. I am in Mexico and if I built a gun I would likey be in jail for a long time. Do make sure of the laws.
If you are using steel like you are looking at, I would think that the breechplug threads would be the biggest safety factor. Make them right and you will likely be safe with reasonable loads.
Your vent should not be more than half inch from the face of the breechplug.
volatpluvia

 

[missionary5155]

Thanks everyone !
It does look like the car strippers is the place to be looking.
Legality ... That is the one consideration that is cloudy.. DISCAMEC (the explosives,arms...) office here has a simple process to go through. But they do not yet know what to call a receiver and they do not register barrels... So I have to build then let them decide.
"Ver..." Thanks for th Flashole location off the breach. I am trying to Guess about the distance I want to get it all from my face . All The years I have shot a ML I never measured how afr that vent is + - from the faceI am Looking at about 6".
Mike in Peru
God Bless ya´ll

 

[mckutzy]

well the distance from ur face shouldn't be much of a problem, wear safety glasses, hearing protection when shooting. for the first shot out of the gonne, rig it of to a tree a good distance and maby a fuse for ignition. if that shows no sings of stress and distortion, should be good to go, but but the distance from your face to the touch hole shouldn't matter.

 

[Ken Morrison]

How about using a barrel from a breech loading rifle or shotgun. That way you know you have safe steel provided you make a proper breech plug. You could even use a discarded barrel with a damaged area that you would remove.

Can you import a barrel and breech plug from the US or another country in your area? I remember reading on the forum that in some countries a person can inport a barrel if the touch hole is not drilled. Without touch hole it's just a piece of pipe.

I hope this helps, good luck.

 

[Leonredbeard]

Ah, Mike,
Thanks for clearing that up. I thought you were talking about the distance of the vent from the breech.
So if you build and they determine that it comes under the law, you have to register it or get a permit, or do they confiscate it? Inquiring minds want to know.
Glad you checked into it.
volatpluvia

 

[missionary5155]

Thanks again ...
I stopped into the local Firearms Government office and they had good and bad to tell me.
The good is I can build a Matchlock. The bad I have to register as an arms manufacturer and that little liscense is going to cost me $1000 yearly. Plus other little operational liscensing and inspections and.... :surrender:
So there goes the project here in Peru.
Thanks again everyone. I will persue this when up in Illinois. I may just go to The Rifle Shoppe and get a kit...
Mike in Peru
God Bless ya´ll

 

[F.S. Piekarczyk]

In this sort of a case you must tell the authorities you are a person making this/these gun(s) for personal use and they are not intended to be commercially resold. However you might ask for some special status as a primitive crafts shop arms maker which will provide skills to the locals. You should look up a traditional Spanish matchlock and say you're reviving an old cultural item which can be used in reenactments.

 

[Ken Morrison]

I think FSPIC has a good idea.

How about this, decide what barrel you want to use and make a wood pattern of the barrel profile. Then build all the other parts in Paru. When you get back to the good old USA you can buy the barrel and put the matchlock together.

A situation like yours makes me thankful for the freedom we enjoy in America. We have to fight to keep that freedom.
Good luck.