Page 170 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

168 18TH-CENTURY GUNS Serpentine match holder

ONET 1680–1815 In 18th-century Europe, the flintlock musket was developed Shishi ▲ JAPANESE HI NAWA JU Japanese hi nawa ju (matchlocks) could

to a very high standard, one such example being the “Brown Bess”
Land-Pattern musket—the weapon of choice for British infantry
Octagonal barrel
from 1722 to 1838. In Japan and India, however, the matchlock gun
remained the dominant form of firearm. Japanese traders had come
fire three bullets a minute and pierce
Date Early 18th century
into contact with Portuguese matchlock guns in 1543, and within
typical samurai armour at 165ft (50m).
Weight 9lb (4.14kg)
Tobei Shigeyasu of Omi, western Japan.
lion) made of
Because of Japan’s subsequent isolationist policies, the matchlock
The influence of the Sakai school is
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Barrel 3 ⁄2ft (1.03m)
inlaid brass
remained the dominant gun design until well into the 1800s. Indian
Y a few years their craftsmen had begun making weapons of this type. (guardian Origin Japan This matchlock was made by Kunitomo
evident in its red-oak stock, although
Caliber 13.3mm
it has limited decoration.
AND BA decorations using inlaid ivory, gold, silver, or bone. Pentagonal-section
matchlocks were often superbly built and featured exquisite
shoulder stock
FLINTLOCK ▲ JAPANESE HI NAWA JU This early 18th-century matchlock Cock
Stock decorated with kara kusa (foliage) scrolls
in gold lacquer, with inlays of brass and silver
musket is the work of the Enami family
Date c.1700
Origin Japan
the finest Japanese gunmakers of the
Weight 6lb (2.77kg) of Sakai, widely held to be among Rear sight
preindustrial era. The stock is made
Barrel 39 ⁄4in (100cm) of red oak, while the decoration may
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have been added at a later date.
Caliber 11.4mm

Ramrod
Barrel-retaining pin pipe

▲ LIGHT DRAGOON British dragoons carried this
FLINTLOCK CARBINE carbine during the Seven Years’
Stock has Date 1756 War (1756–63). It was a
high comb Origin England scaled-down version of the
Small of stock Long Land-Pattern musket,
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gripped in hand Weight 7 ⁄4lb (3.3kg) with a shorter barrel and in
Barrel 36in (91.4cm) a smaller caliber.
Caliber 15-bore
Comb of stock to put
shoulder in line of recoil

Steel spring

▲ PRUSSIAN RIFLED
FLINTLOCK CARBINE
Date 1722
Origin Prussia
Weight 7 ⁄2lb (3.37kg)
1
Barrel 37in (94cm)
▲ SEA SERVICE MUSKET This English Sea Service
Caliber 15-bore musket is fitted with a
Trigger Date Mid-18th century
discharger cup on the muzzle.
This carbine was manufactured until 1774 guard Origin England The discharger fired cast-iron
at the Prussian state arsenal at Potsdam (in Weight 8 ⁄4lb (4kg) hand grenades, making this
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modern-day Germany). The small of the stock Barrel 37in (94cm) an ideal weapon for use prior
is sized to fit in the hand, while the name of to boarding.
the armory is stamped on the lock plate. Caliber .75in