Matchlock gun
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1800 - 1900
Materials
lacquer, paint, silver, gold, iron & wood
Measurements
110 mm (Width) x 70 mm (Depth); 1700 mm (L)
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Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 108506
Summary
A very fine quality matchlock gun, India, late 18th century.
Full description
Fine quality matchlock gun, India, late 18th century. Round iron barrel, the breech heavily swollen and profusely decorated with gold damascene in the form of flowers and foliage within a panel. The remaining length of the barrel, including the mushroom-shaped fluted muzzle, are damascened in gold. The breech is formed with a raised flange with a rear sight; the breech also having an integral forged flash-pan, with pivoting cover. The barrel retained to the stock by 8 barrel bands of red and white twisted cord, each with a retaining plate that fits over the barrel. Iron ramrod with a bulbous and facetted tip. Barrel length 120.6cm Calibre 19mm. Wooden stock of red wood with a facetted, slightly curving butt. Each side of the stock has laquered iron "lock plates" secured with iron nails formed as flower heads, one of these formed to hold a vent pricker (missing). A large portion of the butt and forestock are covered with heavily embossed silver sheeting of a latice pattern. The block behind barrel breech is of blackened wood, the top fluted and cut with a sighting channel. Iron sling swivel. Gold damascened iron bar trigger. Indian-type matchlock, enclosed within stock, the match-holder head damascened in gold. Overall length 169cm
Provenance
Purchased in 1987 by the National Trust from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000).
References
Elgood, 1995: Robert Elgood, Firearms of the Islamic World