Figel, "On Damascus Steel"
Figel has a picture of a matchlock rifle from India, circa 1700. He identifies the pattern as herringbone. It bears a close resemblance to the Bonehill barrels. However, the method of fabricating the barrels was very different. I believe this matchlock is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum. So is it possible it was on display when that Bonehill was made?

Henry Blochmann, Henry Sullivan Jarrett, "The Ain i Akbari By Abū al-Fazul ibn Mubārak", Published 1873
Detailing the rule of Akbar about 1590 A.D. in India. Akbar took great interest in the fabrication of firearms.

From Volume 1 of 5.
Quote:
ON MATCHLOCKS
These are in particular favour with His Majesty, who stands unrivalled in their manufacture, and as a markman. Matchlocks are now made so strong, that they do not burst, though let off when filled to the top. Formerly they could not fill them to more than a quarter. Besides, they made them with the hammer and the anvil by flattening pieces of iron, and joining the flattened edges of both sides. Some left them, from foresight, on one edge open but numerous accidents were the result, especially in the former kind, His Majesty has invented an excellent method of construction. They flatten iron, and twist it round obliquely in form of a roll, so that the folds get longer at every twist then they join the folds, not edge to edge, but so as to allow them to lie one over the other, and heat them gradually in the fire. They also take cylindrical pieces of iron, and pierce them when hot with an iron pin. Three or four of such pieces make one gun or, in the case of smaller ones, two. Guns are often made of a length of two yards those of a smaller kind are one and a quarter yards long, and go by the name of bamdnak. The gunstocks are differently made. From the practical knowledge of His Majesty, guns are now made in such a manner that they can be fired off, without a match, by a slight movement of the cock.

These cylindrical pieces can be used to form yet another pattern that has no equivalent in Europe. It is known as the "Circle and Rose", which Figel has pictures of as well as diagrams of fabrication techniques that may have been used.

Pete

Last edited by PeteM; 10/16/07 10:31 PM.