{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O471471"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O471471/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0604/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0604/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT0604","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2020MT0605","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O471471/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O471471","accessionNumber":"3139(IS)","objectType":"Combination weapon","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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 two-handed sword design popular in Central and Northern India. \r\n\r\nIn 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. Henry VIII was an enthusiastic patron of new weapons technologies but their popularity seems to have been universal.  \r\n\r\nAfter the conflicts in India between the British and the French during the Seven Years War, new firearms technology was enthusiastically studied and adopted by many Indian rulers. This weapon incorporates an early 19th century English flintlock mechanism. English weapons using similar locks had helped successfully overthrow many powerful states such as the Marathas. It may have been partly because of this reputation that an English lock was used in this combination weapon.\r\n\r\nHowever, flintlocks were found to be more prone to mechanical failure in hot and dry climates. Simpler, more robust matchlock firearms remained popular in India throughout the 19th century.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MT0604","2020MT0605"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES340219"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Combination weapon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1816 to late 19th century","earliest":"1816-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the India Museum in 1879","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"lock dated 1816","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Two handed sword with a flintlock pistol incorporated into the hilt in such a way that the  the weapon has to be reversed to fire the pistol. The flintlock has the mark of the Honourable East India Company and is dated 1816","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 110, Cat. No. 409"},{"reference":{"text":"Egerton, Wilbraham, <i>An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India</i>, London, 1880","id":"AUTH353483"},"details":"p.110","free":""}],"production":"Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["3139(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"3139","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"409"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}