*Indian Torador Snap Matchlock*
60.3/4″, 54.5cm total length. Approx 50 bore.
The matchlock has a hardwood stock, with a good aged patina. Three-quarter stock with unusual fish-tailed Sind shaped stock, which made the gun easier to fire from horseback. There are brass fittings to keep the barrel secure and attached to the hardwood stock. It has a snap matchlock using a weak spring to bring the serpentine to the firing position. Octagonal sighted barrel.
When the Portuguese reached India in 1498, they brought with them firearms, among them the matchlock musket. However, expert armorers were already plentiful in India, and native craftsmen began to copy the weapons and adapting them for their own needs. They were found mostly in the Mughal-influenced Northern and Central India. Most ornamental ones were adorned with paintings or gold. Whereas practical examples were simple.
The matchlock, also known as a firelock, was a firearm that utilized a burning piece of flammable cord to ignite the gunpowder. It featured a mechanism called the serpentine, which was activated by the musketeer pulling a lever or trigger with their finger. This improvement over the hand cannon allowed the musketeer to independently apply the match without losing focus. However, the matchlock had its drawbacks, such as the need to keep the match constantly lit, which posed challenges in wet weather and risked revealing the soldier’s position due to the glowing match and distinctive smell. A sentry on night guard duty would consume approximately a mile of match per year to keep both ends of the match lit.
*Condition*
The barrel has some light surface rust and pitting. One of the brass rings is loose. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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