Torador once again.

[Pukka Bundook]

Rick,

I am pleased you mentioned the hole in the rear of the breech-block.
I had meant to mention this and kept forgetting it!

It is for snuffing the match.
You will note than none of the arms with this hole have a match -snuffer on the side of the stock.
This is another point that ties all this type together.
It appears All these from Jaipur with the same decoration (or similar) have this match -hole. I must check, but believe it may be unique to Jaipur arms.
(Though not All Jaipur arms)

Very interesting! At least to yourself and myself, lol!

Edited to add;
My matchlock here also has that hole, (Didn't know if you could see it in any photos here)
Also,
Don't worry about the stock! It's well on the way repair -wise. I have photos to attach as soon as I get at it!
The horn for buttplate is from a Red Cylonese water buffalo, so quite apt.

Thanks for the offer of bone, but I have a good supply of old bone from the muskeg here on the farm, all a bit old and stained. Just need a few tiny pieces for missing inlay, though I do not want to replace quite all of it.

More soon Rick!

Richard.
And, edited to add first pics of repair to the stock.
After initial glueing I drilled two holes from the butt end up a few inches past the break, and inserted metal rods . I like to use wood pegs, but in this case the metal rods will add more rigidity.
As you can see, there are great big pieces of wood missing in some areas!
Added Wood pegs where the old screws were as well.
You can see there is not much left of the bottom inlay, just the elephant's trunk! Not sure how this looked originally, as most such emblems look like a ball with a trumpet, and this one had no large circular part adjoining. ...

[Pukka Bundook]

Rather than leave you worrying about the above mess, here are some pics of stage 2;

Had some very similar rosewood fortunately, for patching!

[rickystl]

Hi Richard.

WOW !!! That stock repair looks like it's coming along just fine. Great Work !!!
The use of metal rods versus wood pegs is a great idea in this case. Especially with that type of break, and the length of the butt stocks on these guns. And looks like that rosewood blended in very nice. Thanks for the pics with the update. I still like the iron mounts on these guns better than the brass mounts, especially if engraved.
YES!! I can see the hole in the rear of the breech block on yours also. OK. Used for snuffing the match. That was the only thought that occured to me. But when I looked in the hole of mine I could not see any evidence that it had been used for that purpose. Maybe it just had not been used. Also, I would think there would be some type of brass tube inside the hole for this use. But it would not really be necessary. Anyway, thanks for clearing this up. It's been one of those things that's bugged me for some time now. LOL.
Come to think of it, I have a supply of brass tubing in different diameters. Maybe I'll make a brass insert for the hole ? LOL

Rick

[Pukka Bundook]

Rick,

It just occurred to me that most decent pipes are made of rosewood, (Often called briar in smoking circles) and They don't burn away very fast, so merely snuffing a match would cause no problems whatsoever, LOL!

Pleased you think it's coming along.
The forestock had the rusty remains of a linen lining, so removed this and replaced it. New liner glued in. Then greased said liner and will grease barrel to ensure no rust forming.
I can see some areas where organic (I believe) bands have been, so will replace these as well.
Does yours have a band right at the tip of the foreend? This one has a chatty tin band there that is broken. I feel it would originally have been placed further back, on the metal re-enforcing.
I will have a look at your completed matchlock again, to see if this is of help, as they both obviously come from the same stable.

Has opportunity arisen for you to try yours yet? ...mine is getting close!

Richard.

Edited to add;
Rick, you may find this interesting! I did. :-)

http://jot101.com/2013/01/the-native...tiger-hunting/

[rickystl]

Hi Richard.

That linen lining is interesting. Never seen that before. The front barrel band on mine sits over the brass reinforcing band about an inch behind the front tip of the stock. Think I posted a pic of the muzzle here. If not, let me know and I'll post it. On my I-Pad at the moment. Have to be at my laptop.

Thanks for that Link !!! I'll read that tomorrow morning.

Haven't tried her out yet. Will probably be early Spring before I do. Can't wait

Since your's don't have any original barrel bands left, any feel yet for what you might use ?

Rick.

[Pukka Bundook]

Rick,

I can see lighter coloured lines around the stock, and darker lines around the barrel where possibly leather bands have been tied. Maybe four or five wraps on average, so can use leather, Or, I can use linen twine as I have some. Can't break it, and if waxed will last for ages.

Nice thing about an organic binding, is it doesn't hurt or alter anything and can be changed at any time! Also, such banding will tighten the barrel into the stock better than trying to make tight metal bands, and get them shoved on!........especially as the flared muzzle is larger than part of the barrel where bands would fit.

I like the idea of the organic binding. :-)

Hope you enjoy the link. I did. :-)
Just looked at Eggerton , and the Jaipur matchlocks illustrated or mentioned have leather bindings, so there we are! Also the ones in Elgood's book "Arms of the Jaipur Court " also has an example of a Jaipur -produced gun with leather bindings. Nice when what we surmise turns out to be a fact. (Not saying All had leather bindings, but they were common)

[rickystl]

Hi Richard.

Knowing what we now know lol. I too would go with the leather bands. Maybe a dark brown ? How do you think the interior of the barrel looks ?

Rick