Recognise this Antique

[Georgian21]

Friends,

While clearing the cellar at our old Haveli we discovered this
Full frontal view


Full back view


Stock assembly


Barrel and oroginal sling


Foresight on the Barrel


Hammer and firing chamber - the little white dot on the right is the place where the hammer will strike


It was neatly packed in a wax coated cloth with a cushion of wheat husk packed in second layer with cloth strips, except for some rust at few places it seems to be in good condition forcing me to think the foresight my great grandfater had when he kept it. My grandfather remember seeing this only twice (he was born in 1920 and often reffered to this gun as owned by his grandfather during the 1857 war of independence, He himself has served the British Army and fought the second world war in Japan and than the first war with Pakistan).

Next on my task is to restore it to its full glory

Please suggest:
- How and where should I start
- so that it is restored with minimal damages.

Regards
Gopal

[timmy]

That's a very interesting weapon, Gopal: both historical and with great meaning to your personal story and heritage!

I would be very careful about how you clean such a historical item. Many times, trying to restore historical items can cause more damage than it corrects. I recommend putting in some serious research into the restoration of old firearms before you begin.

Thanks for the pictures -- this is fascinating to me!

[arjunsudhakaran]

Sorry, I cannot provide any intelligent/valuable input. But this is quite beautiful!

[cottage cheese]

Mouth watering project for some one like me. Fascinating to say the least.

Great find! Hope it's licensed....or at least hope you can get it licensed if it isn't

It appears to be a generic matchlock that was pretty wide spread in the subcontinent. Does it have a damascus barrel?

Remember if and when restoring it, stick to period finshes (if any)...no modern machine screws/nuts/bolts...no machine made stuff...etc. no polyurethane varnish or paint as well....

The metal parts (Iron) apart from brass/copper, would most likely have been bare metal that slowly patinated to a rudimentary browned finish. Do not attempt to defile the thing with modern goop like B&C plum brown or stuff like that.

Actually its best just carefully cleaned up(not tidied up) and left as it is.

Have fun.

regards,
cc

[aji_kappil]

Hi,

Greetings !

Your matchlock is very similar to this particular one. Check this out. I hope it will serve as a Reference Point on how the Restored Gun should look like....

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photos.php?id=3773

Thanks

[Vikram]

A very interesting find,Georgian.

OT, does something in this condition require a license?At what point a firearm stops being one? Our legal experts? Thanks.

Best-
Vikram

[Nitro Express]

A very interesting find,Georgian.

OT, does something in this condition require a license?At what point a firearm stops being one? Our legal experts? Thanks.

Best-
Vikram

Hello Vikram!

It might not need a licence as it will come under Curios.There is a provision in the Arms Act for such weapons to do away with licencing.

Nitro Express

[winnie_the_pooh]

It is an old matchlock with a sling added at a later date.

No.It will not require a license.

Arms Act,1959 " 45. Act not to apply in certain cases.- Nothing in this Act shall apply to -

....(c) any weapon of an obsolete or of antiquarian value or in disrepair which is not capable of being used as a firearm either with or without repair;"