Flintlock Gun (Chakmaki Banduk)

The flintlock gun, called chakmaki banduk or bandook patharkala, carried no lighted match (as is the case with the matchlock guns) but has a self containing ignition mechanism. It contains a hammer, which, when strike on a piece of flint, produced a spark, igniting the priming powder in the pan and resulting the discharge. In India, it was first introduced during the early years of Jahangir’s reign. The single-barrelled, muzzle-loading flintlock gun has a long, fine barrel damascened in gold and silver with engraved letters on it. The curved butt facilitated its being kept under the armpit. It could also be fired from a tripod or by being kept on someone else’s shoulders.