Torador once again.

rickystl · 5th June 2016, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

This is interesting as being a different shaped butt... not plank shaped but round by comparison;
Summary

Indian matchlock musket or Toradar.

One of a collection of weapons seized from mutineers during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), and subsequently donated to the Melbourne Public Library in 1860 by Earl Charles Canning, Governor-General of India.
Physical Description

Cal. .625 in., smooth bore barrel 1054 mm long, ornamental grooves. Pan on right hand side, V notch rear sight. Fully stocked, secured to barrel by 5 bands, ramrod missing, iron trigger & 2 sling swivels. Straight stock with ornamental brass mounts, serpentine protrudes from piece of shaped bone attached to top of stock.

Yes, round rather than plank style. And very straight. Closer to what you would find on Persian and Caucasion long guns. First one I've seen. Very interesting.
Rick.

Pukka Bundook · 5th June 2016, 09:11 PM

Rick,
Yes, Sarah is using the Snider. :-)

Ibrahiim,

I have a feeling that the torador you show in post #16 above, has had the decoration added recently. It looks newer than the arm. I had seen this one prior to this and it had me wondering!

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 6th June 2016, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

Rick,
Yes, Sarah is using the Snider. :-)

Ibrahiim,

I have a feeling that the torador you show in post #16 above, has had the decoration added recently. It looks newer than the arm. I had seen this one prior to this and it had me wondering!

Pukka Bundook,

There is always the chance of that ... difficult to tell from photos but in fact nothing to stop someone having the work done later or to enhance a trusted weapon I suppose... The style and quality look worthy enough ... and enhance the weapon greatly...So we could say it's a Pukka Bundook

Pukka Bundook · 16th June 2016, 05:15 AM

Yes we could indeed, Ibrahiim!

I have a few photos saved of toradors with the rounded buttstock, or a rounded buttplate on a 5-sided stock. Less common by far than the usual shape!

The one you show from the Indian Mutiny is a very handsome arm!!

Richard.

Pukka Bundook · 28th January 2017, 08:46 PM

Pardon for bringing up an old thread, but I have recently received this torador, though purchased last year!

The reason for bringing this to light again, is to enquire about a couple of things;
The stock , as in many Indian toradors, is joined in the fore-end.
This makes it a two-piece stock. Should both halves be glued together when I have the other repairs completed?...or, did they rely on bands or bindings to hold the foremost part snugly in place?

I have the buttstock glued back together through the bade break, but as the screws holding the parts together were not tight and the parts could fridge a little, there will be some further 'skin grafts' needed.
The bore is Very good, so will make a shooter when all repaired, And, there is no large breech cavity as we so often find on these arms! The last inch is slightly tighter than the rest of the bore, so Much easier to work with.

Will show photos of this in another thread.

Any further guidance /advice much appreciated.

Richard.

rickystl · 29th January 2017, 05:07 PM

Hi Richard.

Glad to hear the Torador is finally in your hands. It's a nice one.

STOCK: I have held two Toradors with that V shaped join in the fore stock. Yes, many seem to have been made this way. The join seemed to be about mid-way in the fore stock. One had a decorative, re-inforcing type band where the two stock pieces met, with two barrel bands around the barrel at that point. And the other specimen just had two barrel bands next to each other right where the two pieces of the stock met. I don't recall any evidence of glue. So I think the two pieces were held together as you mention above.
That said, as long as I was doing the other stock repairs, and I intended on shooting it, I would probably have that join glued together. It would add strength to the forearm wood. Would probably eliminate any future "wobble" in the forestock. Just my thoughts.

BARREL: That is really good news !!!!! That slightly narrow one inch area will mostly be filled with powder anyway. Should not be a problem loading and cleaning. But do double-check the breech plug area. But if it looks similar to the forge welded one originally on mine, you should be ok. Nice you don't have to go through all the "surgery" mine did. LOL

Now I won't feel like the only one shooting a Torador. LOL

Please keep us posted on your progress - with photos when possible - !! Great project. It does in fact seem that both our Toradors came from the same area. Very cool.

Rick

Pukka Bundook · 29th January 2017, 07:16 PM

Rick,

Will indeed keep you posted with progress and photos !

Thank you for your thoughts on the stock and such. It was my first thought to glue the joint, as the stock can move a bit at that point.
Some have solid bands and some twine/wire or leather ties.
This one only had a solid band at muzzle, and some old copper wire over the splice, but it wasn't original.
The stock looks Bad right now!, as when I took the screws out, one little bird and one flower fell out and need putting back.
The 'elephant ' on the underside of the buttstock has only his trunk remaining!, as someone put a large wood -screw where he used to be!
Will plug that old wound (screw split the stock worse than before it was applied) and put a new 'elephant' on the trunk. :-)
Needs a buttplate as half was putty.. Fortunately I have some black water-buffalo horn so that will suffice.

More as and when.
Thanks for comments on Omani thread. will reply soon. :-)

Richard.

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5th June 2016, 09:11 PM	#2
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Rick, Yes, Sarah is using the Snider. :-) Ibrahiim, I have a feeling that the torador you show in post #16 above, has had the decoration added recently. It looks newer than the arm. I had seen this one prior to this and it had me wondering!

16th June 2016, 05:15 AM	#4
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Yes we could indeed, Ibrahiim! I have a few photos saved of toradors with the rounded buttstock, or a rounded buttplate on a 5-sided stock. Less common by far than the usual shape! The one you show from the Indian Mutiny is a very handsome arm!! Richard.

28th January 2017, 08:46 PM	#5
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Pardon for bringing up an old thread, but I have recently received this torador, though purchased last year! The reason for bringing this to light again, is to enquire about a couple of things; The stock , as in many Indian toradors, is joined in the fore-end. This makes it a two-piece stock. Should both halves be glued together when I have the other repairs completed?...or, did they rely on bands or bindings to hold the foremost part snugly in place? I have the buttstock glued back together through the bade break, but as the screws holding the parts together were not tight and the parts could fridge a little, there will be some further 'skin grafts' needed. The bore is Very good, so will make a shooter when all repaired, And, there is no large breech cavity as we so often find on these arms! The last inch is slightly tighter than the rest of the bore, so Much easier to work with. Will show photos of this in another thread. Any further guidance /advice much appreciated. Richard.

29th January 2017, 05:07 PM	#6
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	Hi Richard. Glad to hear the Torador is finally in your hands. It's a nice one. STOCK: I have held two Toradors with that V shaped join in the fore stock. Yes, many seem to have been made this way. The join seemed to be about mid-way in the fore stock. One had a decorative, re-inforcing type band where the two stock pieces met, with two barrel bands around the barrel at that point. And the other specimen just had two barrel bands next to each other right where the two pieces of the stock met. I don't recall any evidence of glue. So I think the two pieces were held together as you mention above. That said, as long as I was doing the other stock repairs, and I intended on shooting it, I would probably have that join glued together. It would add strength to the forearm wood. Would probably eliminate any future "wobble" in the forestock. Just my thoughts. BARREL: That is really good news !!!!! That slightly narrow one inch area will mostly be filled with powder anyway. Should not be a problem loading and cleaning. But do double-check the breech plug area. But if it looks similar to the forge welded one originally on mine, you should be ok. Nice you don't have to go through all the "surgery" mine did. LOL Now I won't feel like the only one shooting a Torador. LOL Please keep us posted on your progress - with photos when possible - !! Great project. It does in fact seem that both our Toradors came from the same area. Very cool. Rick

29th January 2017, 07:16 PM	#7
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Rick, Will indeed keep you posted with progress and photos ! Thank you for your thoughts on the stock and such. It was my first thought to glue the joint, as the stock can move a bit at that point. Some have solid bands and some twine/wire or leather ties. This one only had a solid band at muzzle, and some old copper wire over the splice, but it wasn't original. The stock looks Bad right now!, as when I took the screws out, one little bird and one flower fell out and need putting back. The 'elephant ' on the underside of the buttstock has only his trunk remaining!, as someone put a large wood -screw where he used to be! Will plug that old wound (screw split the stock worse than before it was applied) and put a new 'elephant' on the trunk. :-) Needs a buttplate as half was putty.. Fortunately I have some black water-buffalo horn so that will suffice. More as and when. Thanks for comments on Omani thread. will reply soon. :-) Richard.