Been away on business for a few weeks but back now with an interesting piece I traded a neighbor for a couple years ago.
It's a 1720s Indian Wall Gun, and is a Matchlock muzzleloader.
87 inches long, 66 inch barrel. Over 20lbs as it sits. (compare to 300year newer rifle below it)
Three Quarter Bore (.775in)
A Matchlock was the common design prior to Flintlock, and is a very simple arrangement. The 'match' being a burning ember held in the V at the tip of the match holder.
See from the pics that actuating the trigger simply moves the match holder towards the flash pan and then whoosh! a flash of smoke that blinds everyone around you, and hopefully scares someone on the other end to run away (or worse of course) and stop attacking.
These were used as mid range fort defense, supported in the middle on a pintle or cradle, and placed in a firing aperture at or near the top of the defensive walls around the fort. Designed for 300-600yds, ie farther than smaller arms, bows or grenades...and before cannons (600yd+)
This one was used to defend the Old City of Jaipur in northern India from the 1720s on.
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