Easy to Make Slow Match for your Matchlock

Boolitcaster

Boolitcaster

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
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Location
Vancouver Island
I picked up a matchlock recently which does not take a standard size of slow match. Using the Internet, I read up on match making. ��....Er, no. On how to make slow match. I decided to try the most primitive method, braiding cotton string again and again, until I had the right size to fit the serpentine. I then boiled the braided match in a coffee can full of water which had a cup of ashes from the wood stove added. I allowed the water to cool and then removed the match. After it had dried fully, I tried it and found to to hold a good ember and not go out. Some time at the range proved it to be more than suitable.

Since then, I have tried the same technique with braided hemp, 1/4" cut strips of cotton cloth braided and the cotton cloth braided again with cotton string. All worked well.

I hope this helps others keep their matchlocks firing.

Cheers!
 
Interesting....good way for cannon fuse when we run low - I take it you didn't use any particular type of ash (like for making charcoal, I understand willow works best) - do you burn mostly one type of wood, or just whatever (we burn everything from birch to cedar)?
 
What about the hemp rope soaked in Water with Black powder dissolved in it? I saw that seemed to work Okay on Iraqveteran8888's youtube channel when they were playing with his match lock. Haven't got around to buying a match lock yet but it's on my to do list. Where did you get yours?
 
NorthCoastBigBore said:
Interesting....good way for cannon fuse when we run low - I take it you didn't use any particular type of ash (like for making charcoal, I understand willow works best) - do you burn mostly one type of wood, or just whatever (we burn everything from birch to cedar)?
Click to expand...

Far too slow burning for cannon fuze I'm afraid. The minerals in the wood ash seem to prevent the cord from bursting into flame while allowing the end to have a hot ember. In this application, any wood ash should work.
 
Tyockell18 said:
What about the hemp rope soaked in Water with Black powder dissolved in it? I saw that seemed to work Okay on Iraqveteran8888's youtube channel when they were playing with his match lock. Haven't got around to buying a match lock yet but it's on my to do list. Where did you get yours?
Click to expand...

I was hoping not to waste any of my black powder if it wasn't necessary. Another concern was that the match may spit or even burn too quickly if the bp emulsion was too concentrated. I think that a similar cord saturated in a black powder slurry should make a fine fuze.

I picked up my matchlock at a gun show. It was listed on CGN prior to my seeing it at the show. It is a fair representation of a Japanese matchlock, aside from the 50 cal Lyman barrel. The price was right and I am having a ton of fun with it.
 
Boolitcaster said:
I was hoping not to waste any of my black powder if it wasn't necessary. Another concern was that the match may spit or even burn too quickly if the bp emulsion was too concentrated. I think that a similar cord saturated in a black powder slurry should make a fine fuze.

I picked up my matchlock at a gun show. It was listed on CGN prior to my seeing it at the show. It is a fair representation of a Japanese matchlock, aside from the 50 cal Lyman barrel. The price was right and I am having a ton of fun with it.
Click to expand...
Cool, thanks for the reply.
 
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