Places to get a matchlock?

[granth]

Hello everyone,
I was wondering, where in the world could I get my hands on a matchlock? It seems that most large producers (Traditions, Pedersoli) do not make any matchlocks. I've seen some Indian ones but I am weary of them. Would I have to commission one from a builder or is there a company that actually sells one?

 

[Youngblood]

I dont know who might stock one on the regular but Lodgewood has this one.

https://www.lodgewood.com/Custom-Late-15th-Century-Serpentine-Matchlock-_p_5560.html

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I've seen some Indian ones but I am weary of them.

Other than the rather large 75-caliber [that's a lot of lead per shot!], there's nothing wrong with those from India. Yes, they use heavy. clunky teak wood instead of English walnut (if buying a caliver) or wood from a fruit tree, e.g., cherry, but old/early BP arms tended to be somewhat 'clunky' in design and execution anyway, LOL. And of course it is scoured far TOO bright in polishing ... holy cow, you'lll need sunglasses!

But for safety of the barrel whilst shooting; no issues IMHO. I have proofed one myself, a 75 - for my own sanity - using a double-ball/heavier charge than it would ever, ever see in its lifetime and there were no changes in the barrel dimemsions as measured to the 10/1000s of an inch, in spots from the breech and down (up?) the barrel in 1" increments.

I've since upgraded to one built by Brian Anderson, who unfortunately just retired, and yet the 'import repro' was just as fast and reliable in its ignition. You do hit on a sore spot for a need in the BP community ...

Now to me, that matchlock from Lodgewood is a tad over-priced for what it is, or for what one would have received (even caliber) if Brian had made you one, however ... beggars can't be choosers, however ... also admittedly, BP market prices are indeed UP all over! Now I do know of the builder Steve Krolick, and have other BP arms he has built, and they are built very, very well. Note the description says it is a snapping matchlck, but it isn't - you pull the 'tiller' or bottom lever leg of the serpentine to fire it.

 

[Rudyard]

Flints . Estimate is bang on . Iv'e knocked out a Lot of M' locks nothing like that price .It seems like a huge market to cater to . But in these repressive anti gun days getting them to the US market is a bain currently at least .& Ime too' creaky' to get into large orders . What a dag ! who would have thought there would be such interest as is now appearing .. But good to see it .
Regards Rudyard .

 

[granth]

Other than the rather large 75-caliber [that's a lot of lead per shot!], there's nothing wrong with those from India. Yes, they use heavy. clunky teak wood instead of English walnut (if buying a caliver) or wood from a fruit tree, e.g., cherry, but old/early BP arms tended to be somewhat 'clunky' in design and execution anyway, LOL. And of course it is scoured far TOO bright in polishing ... holy cow, you'lll need sunglasses!

But for safety of the barrel whilst shooting; no issues IMHO. I have proofed one myself, a 75 - for my own sanity - using a double-ball/heavier charge than it would ever, ever see in its lifetime and there were no changes in the barrel dimemsions as measured to the 10/1000s of an inch, in spots from the breech and down (up?) the barrel in 1" increments.

I've since upgraded to one built by Brian Anderson, who unfortunately just retired, and yet the 'import repro' was just as fast and reliable in its ignition. You do hit on a sore spot for a need in the BP community ...

Now to me, that matchlock from Lodgewood is a tad over-priced for what it is, or for what one would have received (even caliber) if Brian had made you one, however ... beggars can't be choosers, however ... also admittedly, BP market prices are indeed UP all over! Now I do know of the builder Steve Krolick, and have other BP arms he has built, and they are built very, very well. Note the description says it is a snapping matchlck, but it isn't - you pull the 'tiller' or bottom lever leg of the serpentine to fire it.

I see. Thanks for clearing up my misconceptions!

 

[Pukka Bundook]

I've made

the odd one, but the farm eats all my time it seems.
Love these sorts of builds, as its hard for anyone to say you got it wrong!
Last one wasn't finished in this picture. just at test shooting stage

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Found a finished pic of the above.

This one was copied best I could, from a beloved original in Michael Tromner's collection.
Since sold after his untimely passing.
Tusco-Emilian, C 1525 if I remeber right.

Made a barrel for another.....

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

There’s probably about one matchlock builder for every hundred flintlock or percussion builders.

You’ve got two choices, go Indian or wait for a custom to come up. That one from Lodgewood looks very cool. Buy it so I don’t have to, because I’ve been looking for one as well!

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Richard (Pukka):

I've seen both of them before, but every time I see them I'm taken aback ... that tinder snaplock you made is simply REMARKABLE! You really captured the flavor of Michael's original. And the inlay work on your matchlock - outstanding!

... we mere mortols are not worthy ...

 

[granth]

Found a finished pic of the above.View attachment 140040View attachment 140041

This one was copied best I could, from a beloved original in Michael Tromner's collection.
Since sold after his untimely passing.
Tusco-Emilian, C 1525 if I remeber right.

Made a barrel for another.....

Absolutely amazing work!

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Flint,

What I am most happy about in your post above, is not that you've seen my work, but that that you are aware of Michaels collection, as it was, and have have seen Michaels threads!
This makes me so happy!

Pleased you likeum, Granth!

 

[Treestalker]

Dear Pukka Bundook, Please, Please,
Take the time, effort, and brotherly love to write a matchlock building book with copious pictures and descriptions and/or make an in depth video to help us poor benighted minds understand the wuthering heights of your matchlock craftsmanship, thereby rescuing countless of us hand tool troglodytes from the horrible swamp of flintlock mania and early firearm construction and adornment ignorance! Thank you for your peerless examples, George.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

LOL Treestalker!!
Anyone can make a matchlock.
Just look Closely at Michael's threads, such as "A Matchlock chronology" and study all the bits.
No machine tools, just a file and blacksmiths hammer and learn how to harden wearing areas, and that's it.
For woodwork, get an old plank, and remover Everything that doesn't look like the pictures you are using for reference.
saw, axe and drawknife, and a scraper maybe.
Barrel, either purchased or homemade. Home made gets away from the factory look.
Don't use measuring tools, just eyeball all parts critically.

There, that was a short book wasn't it?!

Just study all the parts, until as soon as you look at what you are making, you will know if it looks right or wrong.
Develop a 16th century mind for when doing the work.
No micrometer, no digitals, no calipres, just eye and hand co-ordination and a measuring stick.

That last part is my second book on the subject.

I would seriously be delighted to see more people making their own. It is Not beyond you if you have eyes and hands and study originals.
Be your own most severe critic!
My grandfather always said, "It'll do"... Won't do!" Do your best .
That's book three.

 

[rodinal220]

If you want to build one The Rifle Shoppe has parts, although they may not always have everything in stock and you have to wait months to get everything.

The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - Matchlocks

 

[Rudyard]

Pukka sums it up wonderfully in his three ' books' above .. Don't mistake him as jokeing ,Ide give you the same advice & Ive made dozens . Not as nice of course but certainly in keeping . I am reminded of Star wars ' feel the force ' type stuff . But next to an original in your hands the best' document' are the photoes such as The Late M Tromner shows ' & unlike many guns no one can say' its wrong 'because there was no .set pattern' .Years ago I met a man who made Enfield's (Mls) he said to me" All these fancy longrifle makers have the advantage of variations . While if he varied from pattern it was glareingly obvious " ( (assumeing the viewer actually knew what he was looking at) And in that he was right . But with M locks the ' 'standard pattern 'idea is out the window . So gather a suitable barrel (I went with 40 cal smooth ( it being the best option for Target MLAIC type shooting ) & the rest just wing it along till it suits you & vaiglely looks like the style you picked to go at. .. At the risk of sciteing , Look at the dragon muzzle on the M lock I recently posted its just out of my head not seen another just files into a oct muzzle And chisles made of hard steel . It pleased me (& I do stress the importance of Dragons since they the original makers seemed very fond of Dragons ) but it perhaps illustrates the freedom to extemporise & still be true to the overall concept .
Your Servant Rudyard

PS the Dragon muzzle pic seemed to be in another section. but It was shown recently

 

[Treestalker]

Thanks Pukka and Rudyard. I love the dragons some of my folks are Welsh and I have a Welsh flag with that wonderful lizard on it. Can't wait to get a pole for it out front. Somebody in Fayetteville has a large French tricolor displayed and it looks great. My first effort at mlock looks kind of Spanish with a 30" oct/round barrel in 24 guage smooth and a stock of Ozark walnut I chopped out from scratch. Still working on the lock guts, great fun! Geo.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Good you are working on the guts Geo!
No need to buy much of anything for a matchlock. barrel maybe at the Most!
Very few screws used, but these are hand filed into screws too! Buying screws gives the game away.

 

[Treestalker]

The matchlocks cover such an interesting period in American history! I saw an old Spanish casket in a small chapel in St Augustine, Florida, (1500's) that had three skulls and crossbones on the upper angled top, and three rows of Latin lettering on the side of the box. I'm considering doing something like that on the angled surfaces of my buttstock on this Spanish styled arquebus I'm building, maybe wood burning it in.
The history just drips off that place and the weapons of that time. One of the cannon barrels at the fort had 'Gloria A Dios' (Glory to God) in bold relief close to the touch hole. The prayer must have worked; the gun never blew up! I also considered putting a hand forged iron ring on the side of the buttstock, and a smaller one up front on the side of the fore end, for a carrying strap (goat hide?). Also I'd like to make a powder horn with the spout on the large end, but need a photo and description of how that was set up. Fuzzy original pictures show a tube extending from the large flat base plug with a cross plug in it, but is it just a wood peg? Loads of fun! Thanks everyone for your input; be well, Geo.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Geo,
The powder horns at that time had a valve to close them off, Really quite modern !
I will look for a thread on them on the other channel.
Courtesy of Michael yet again!

Not exactly what I was looking for, but look at post numbers #42, #44, and #47 on the link below:

Earliest Arquebusier's and Musketeer's Trapezoidal Powder Flasks, ca. 1530-1590 - Page 2 - Ethnographic Arms & Armour (vikingsword.com)

and the following, post # 7

14th-15th c.: How Powder and Ball etc. Were Kept Before Powder Flasks Appeared - Ethnographic Arms & Armour (vikingsword.com)

 

[Rudyard]

Got to hand it to you your game and getting into an interesting area . Follow Pukkas advise youle not go too far wrong. Ironically it was an article on the subject of Archaic locks in a re enactment context written by me on a rain swept NZ mountain top in a Forest Service hut by fire & candle light & run in'Muzzle loader Magazine' 1995 November issue I think it was & I could E it you but need an E address .
Anyway I wrote " But the palm for reliability must ever be reserved for the Matchlock " a rather questionable assertion but it caught Pukka's emagination so he made one & years later by happy fluke He found me and we have got on famously ever since . I may be the Guru for him but he is the master not me.
Regards Rudyard