Matchlock gun
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1800 - 1900
Materials
paint, silver, gold, steel, iron & wood
Measurements
110 mm (Width) x 70 mm (Depth); 1700 mm (L)
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Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 108507
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 breech, the muzzle mushroom shaped, both profusely decorated with gold damascene in the form of flowers and foliage. The breech formed with a raised rear sight and havong an integral flash-pan, with a pivoting cover (cover missing). The barrel retained to stock by 9 barrel-bands of wire, each with a wire retaining plate that fits over the barrel. Iron ramrod with a gold damascened tip. Barrel length 122cm Calibre 17mm. Wooden stock of red wood with a facetted curving butt, the forestock carved with lines. Iron "lock plate" sides to the stock, decorated with gold damascene. Heavily embossed silver butt-cap and an elongated muzzle-cap. The block behind barrel breech has a fluted form top and is covered in sheet silver. Iron sling swivel. Gold damascened iron bar trigger. Indian-type matchlock, enclosed within stock, the match-holder head damascened in gold. Overall length 170cm
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