From the collection of:
Frazier Historical Arms Museum || VAM Home

Introduced by the early 1400s, the matchlock was the first mechanical ignition system for firearms. With this type of ignition, an arm or serpentine held a smoldering piece of hemp matchcord soaked in a liquid saltpeter (KNO₃) mixture. Squeezing the trigger would gently pull the serpentine, with its lit “match,” into the gunpowder-filled priming pan, igniting the powder and the main charge.

This particular rifle is decorated with inlaid bone and engraved plaques in a manner typical of late-16th-century German and Dutch furniture and cabinetry. Inlay refers to creating an image by setting thin pieces of a material into a depressed base. Materials typically inlaid are wood, metal, stone, shell, glass, ivory, and tile.

Classroom Ideas

Discussion: What do you think of the inlaid design on this rifle? What does the design show? What other types of things have you seen that are inlaid (furniture, jewelry, boxes, musical instruments)?

Activities: Research inlay and create a class display showing different types of materials and results or images of inlay works.

Stain craft sticks different shades and glue them to a piece of wood or cardboard to create a design.

Links

Read more about various forms of inlay at Inlay.com.
[www.inlay.com]

The History and Art of Weapons, a guide to the Frazier Historical Arms Museum created by the Louisville Courier-Journal, includes background on the museum itself as well as the history of arms as works of art.
[www.courier-journal.com/cjextra/frazier/]

See more images of historic arms at the Frazier web site.
[www.frazierarmsmuseum.org/media/royal/royal.php]