Indian blunderbuss with percussion
This is a percussion blunderbuss bearing the JPR/EXR/2|
markings typical of Indian weapons coming from Jaipur, the capital of the Indian
state of Rajasthan. JPR could stand for Jaipur and EXR would stand for Export,
followed by a serial number.
On some photos, the gun appears to be yellow, which
might suggest a bronze construction for use by the navy. However, other images
let's see a damask-type steel, a very advanced technique in India at the time of
this weapon.
Cf :
Most of the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century
barrels in Jodhpur are pechdar though many late seventeenth- or early
eighteenth-century damascus matchlock barrels combine this with jauhardar.
Judged by the evidence provided by Rajput sword construction in the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries the more sophisticated barrels were Mughal in origin.
Damascus pattern is a technique associated with Muslim craftsmen but these,
including arms makers, were well integrated into the Hindu states.
For a
discussion on an almost identical paper clip :
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19873
For a bid
on another Indian trombone :
