Revolving Matchlocks

[Flint62Smoothie]

With that said … I want to make one!

The quest for more than ONE shot is surely fascinating when you look at all the variations and crazy options that people came up with.

Note this one, that I presume is a ’later’ developed one, has sliding pan covers.

But of these other revolving matchlocks pictured, note that the revolving section on the 1st (top) one as shown, is a few inches ahead of the pan location.

That makes me wonder that in order to shoot that one, would one have to ram the charge that was stored in the revolving section, down into the breech?

 

[64Springer]

That is definitely twinge inducing.

 

[russellshaffer]

I notice that the first one, with the pan covers, has provision for chain fires. The next ball up has an escape path. I think you are right about the other,- the charges have to be rammed into place before each fireing. Things could get real exciting in a hurry with any of these. I wonder how they managed to load the cylinders.

 

[TobJohn]

That makes me wonder that in order to shoot that one, would one have to ram the charge that was stored in the revolving section, down into the breech?

Some of the wheellock ones have ramrods, so that is a very good hypothesis. Ramming a loaded chamber is still faster than loading from the muzzle.

Every one of these 16th/17th century revolvers seem to have a metal deflector in front of the chambers, so it seems like they were very aware of what they were getting into.

 

[PhDBrewer]

I want to build one... and then decorate the bejeezes out of it!
As for the wheellock one, ram the charge home and then prime the pan. Would be a bugger to clean.
I would assume they are all rotated by hand.

 

[PhDBrewer]

I think the cartridge wheellock or matchlock would be a easier build.

Instead of a flintlock, use a matchlock.

 

[russellshaffer]

They must have worked - none of these are showing any damage. They all would be safer than supperposed charges in my non expert opinion. Those old guys were ingenious for sure.

 

[Sam squanch]

They are in excellent condition- because no one was foolish enough to actually shoot one…or shot it once , and thought “ maybe not a great idea!”

 

[Rawhide67]

The craftsmanship on these is incredible.

 

[TobJohn]

They are in excellent condition- because no one was foolish enough to actually shoot one…or shot it once , and thought “ maybe not a great idea!”

A lot of the matchlock revolvers have full length barrels and stocks. The idea of putting my hand in front of the cylinder to fire one of these is terrifying. A great way to have a surprise amputation!

 

[TobJohn]

One of the really cool things about matchlock revolvers is that they aren’t just a European fad!

Here is an Indian one in the Royal Armouries:

Matchlock revolver gun With shield to cylinder - Royal Armouries collections

And one I saw in the Wallace collection:

 

[Lock99]

It would be nice to be able to build one, anywhere you can get the information on how to?

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

It would be nice to be able to build one, anywhere you can get the information on how to?

Very doubtful there …

 

[shorthair]

I think the cartridge wheellock or matchlock would be a easier build.
View attachment 247558
Instead of a flintlock, use a matchlock.
View attachment 247559

BEAUTIFUL gun ****, I'd definitely have to hide that from the warden.

 

[russellshaffer]

I think I have finally figured out how they were loaded. Move an empty chamber into firing position and load from the muzzle. Pretty simple if you don't get confused. They don't have ramrods attached because a servant loaded them before leaving the castle.

 

[PhDBrewer]

They don't have ramrods attached because a servant loaded them before leaving the castle.

All of these shown and ones I have seen have ramrods...
In building one, figuring out the mounting structure needed to support the barrel allowing the cylinder to spin. None of these are auto rotating. They are turned by hand & locked in place.. Then the charged rammed into place. Finally the pan is primed. oh... put ramrod away... most of these are missing them...
Ready to !

 

[Sam squanch]

You could use the barrel group/ cylinder from one of those .36 pepperbox kits. You know, the old crappy ones from the 1970’s with the brass frame and horrible trigger pull. They were a 4 shot i believe. I may have one laying around here……

 

[Sam squanch]

These ….

 

[TobJohn]

If you had a lathe and a drill press, I assume the cylinder would be fairly easy? Particularly because you could use modern steel and not wrought iron, so you won’t blow up.

 

[PhDBrewer]

Cylinder would also need individual pans & covers. Would want to make it at least 7 cylinders. Just to be unique. 7 is a magic number...
The pepper box is a percussion affair... I have had a few. Good concept though.