Page 171 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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3 ⁄2ft 18TH-CENTUR
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Ramrod

▲ TIBETAN MEDA Tibet was largely isolated from the rest Rest terminates in
forked antelope horn
Date c.1780 of the world but carried out trade with
India and China. This meda (matchlock)
Origin Tibet shows Chinese influence in form and
Weight 9lb (4.15kg) decoration. Attached to the fore stock Folding spike Y GUNS
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Barrel 3 ⁄4ft (1.11m) is an unusual rest, while the ramrod is bayonet
a modern replacement.
Caliber 17mm
▲ DOUBLE-BARRELED The blunderbuss-type muzzle
FLINTLOCK WITH BAYONET of this double-barreled weapon
Date c.1800 features a folding spike bayonet.
Naval crews appreciated guns that
▲ TURKISH SNAPHAUNCE The smoothbore Turkish tüfek, Origin England combined short-range firepower
Date Late 18th century or musket, combines a pentagonal- with a stabbing weapon.
section butt with an octagonal
Origin Turkey
barrel. Its lock is a snaphaunce, a
Weight 6lb (2.69kg) predecessor of the flintlock, which
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Barrel 28 ⁄2in (72.4cm) had become obsolete in northern
Europe by the early 1600s. Grooved barrel

▲ ENGLISH FLINTLOCK RIFLE Innovative London gunsmith
Date 1791 Henry Nock made several volley Ramrod
guns for the Royal Navy and
Fore sight Origin England
numbered Ezekiel Baker among
Weight 7 ⁄4lb (3.5kg) his apprentices. Nock designed
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Barrel 32in (81cm) this flintlock weapon—possibly
an officer’s private purchase—
Caliber .680in
with nine-groove rifling.
Ramrod

▲ MATCHLOCK An unusual matchlock revolving
REVOLVING MUSKET musket from Indore, this gun
Chamber vent
Date c.1800 uses a mechanical sophistication
sometimes seen in European
Revolving cylinder Origin India flintlocks—the use of a revolving
with six chambers Weight 13lb (5.9kg) cylinder to create a multi-shot
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Barrel 24 ⁄2in (62cm) weapon. The cylinder is
indexed manually.
Caliber .6in
Discharger cup

▼ INDORE TORADAR This simple matchlock from
Date c.1800 Indore, central India, has a
pronounced recurve. Four
Origin India
leather thongs serve as
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Weight 7 ⁄2lb (3.4kg) barrel bands, although the
Sling swivel Barrel 3 ⁄4ft (1.12m) one closest to the breech
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Decorated iron is made of wire.
Pentagonal-section butt lock plate Caliber .55in

Wire barrel Leather
band barrel band