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Getting Into Matchlocks?

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Joined
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Anyone have any advice on getting into matchlocks? Seems to be few if any factory matchlocks available. What ones are about are from India and man it's hard to trust an Indian made gun...

Looking for a 1500's era gun. Can anyone help?

-S.P.
 
Leonard Day in Easthampton MA makes matchlocks, although the ones I have seen (and the one I own) are more 17th century. He has a waiting list, which I hope I am near the top of right now.

Brian Anderson in Bristol Vermont has made a couple of 1500s style snapping matchlocks that I have seen. I fired one and it was neatly put together. They are really nice, but he has a long waiting list.
 
From the standpoint of making one, the mechanical aspects of a matchlock are pretty straightforward. Getting the styling right is the challenge. There doesn't seem to be much available in the way of good drawings.
 
Agreed, DickS.
I wish I had had such detailed photos when I made mine. (One in the "snapping matcklock" thread).

Still pondering doing the big bold file-work on't barrel..

Smokey,

That ball puller I found very charming, having the little horn spacer to centre the puller in the barrel. Very new or 'Immediate" idea really.
Sort of a look into men's thinking in the early 1500's and seeing they thought exactly like us!
 
Spud,

The snapping matchlocks were often termed tinder-locks. In Swedish, "Svamples lit"....Mushroom lock!
The horseshoe fungus we see growing on the base of poplars and birch trees works very well.
You need to trim off the spore part, and use the part that looks like cork. It can be soaked in potash, but I use it as it comes, just dried.
Normally, I just knock some off the trees with the back of the axe, and take them home. leave them in a warm place to dry and slice them up & trim.
When touched with a match they burn very hot and about the speed of slow match. these were used just the once, so do not require to be very long. A piece an inch or so is long enough.

Fot a later sear lock type, the normal hemp slow match is best. Hemp can be bought in about 100 yard rolls and made into matchcord.

Never heard of sponger as such being used.... :)

ATB,
Richard.
 
Spud,

What you see in the but trap is a piece of well worn deer skin, according to Michael Tromner, who owned this piece up to his untimely death. It is merely to prevent the tools from rattling.
If you look at the photos number 4, 5 & 6 in this thread, you can plainly see the pieces of tree fungus in the jaws of the serpent.

All the best,
Richard.
 
Hi Richard

Those pics you posted in the above Link are wonderful, outstanding photo quality. Thanks for Posting.
Shame Michael's collection had to be broke up. It was truly one of a kind. Miss him much.

Rick
 

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