Combination Weapon
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Combination weapons were both objects of curiosity and showcases for the ingenuity of the maker. Many combination weapons combined the growing popularity of firearms with an already proven and familiar weapon design, in this case a mace.
In Europe and Asia from the 1500s there was an explosion of innovative and unusual designs produced to incorporate this new technology, often sponsored by heads of state, but their popularity seems to have been universal.
This weapon incorporates a robust but simple matchlock mechanism into the haft of the mace. Pistol axes and maces were popular with cavalrymen in Eastern Europe in the 16th to 18th centuries. The firearm component is typically considered a secondary weapon designed to be an addition to the main weapon, rather than the other way round.
In Europe and Asia from the 1500s there was an explosion of innovative and unusual designs produced to incorporate this new technology, often sponsored by heads of state, but their popularity seems to have been universal.
This weapon incorporates a robust but simple matchlock mechanism into the haft of the mace. Pistol axes and maces were popular with cavalrymen in Eastern Europe in the 16th to 18th centuries. The firearm component is typically considered a secondary weapon designed to be an addition to the main weapon, rather than the other way round.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Forged steel |
| Brief description | A 9-bladed metal mace with an Indian basket hilt gargaz incorporating a matchlock pistol in the haft, Bundelkhand, 19th century. |
| Physical description | A conventional all-metal 9-bladed mace with an Indian basket hilt (gargaz). The straight shaft is hollow forming the barrel of a matchlock pistol. A simple trigger within the guard engages a serpentine in front. The pan cover for the touch hole is missing. |
| Object history | As originally arranged and displayed in Exhibition Road Indian Museum galleries until 1955, with some additions while in storage, case F.714 |
| Summary | Combination weapons were both objects of curiosity and showcases for the ingenuity of the maker. Many combination weapons combined the growing popularity of firearms with an already proven and familiar weapon design, in this case a mace. In Europe and Asia from the 1500s there was an explosion of innovative and unusual designs produced to incorporate this new technology, often sponsored by heads of state, but their popularity seems to have been universal. This weapon incorporates a robust but simple matchlock mechanism into the haft of the mace. Pistol axes and maces were popular with cavalrymen in Eastern Europe in the 16th to 18th centuries. The firearm component is typically considered a secondary weapon designed to be an addition to the main weapon, rather than the other way round. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.12-1934 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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