{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O84024"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84024/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0607/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0607/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT0607","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O84024/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O84024","accessionNumber":"3266(IS)","objectType":"Mountain gun","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The large calibre of this firearm suggests it was intended for use against large single targets (possibly elephants) or close packed bodies of enemy troops. The well-engineered talon-like bipod and butt spike are designed to dig into the ground and help absorb the massive recoil of the weapon when firing. They suggest this was designed to be fired from a prone position, rather than from a wall rampart. The spiked bipod on the first Anti-tank gun of World War One, the Mauser Tankgewehr M1918, served the same purpose, but this example predates the Mauser by some 50 years.","physicalDescription":"Matchlock mountain gun or wall piece (Pers. 'sher bacha' Lit. 'young tiger'), of large calibre (1.25\") with a damascus steel barrel mounted on a massive wooden stock. It has a hinged touch hole cover, parallel grooved rifling, and an articulated clawed bipod rest and hinged steel butt spike. The talon-like bipod and butt spike are designed to dig into the ground and help absorb the massive recoil of the weapon when firing. This suggests the weapon was designed to be fired from a prone position, rather than from a wall rampart. This feature predates broadly similar features on the first Anti-tank gun of World War One, the Mauser Tankgewehr M1918.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"forging (metal forming)","id":"AAT54033"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Crucible forged steel mounted on wood","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2020MT0607"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES340223"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES340223"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Firearm","id":""}],[{"text":"bipod","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Lahore","id":"x30874"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Transferred from the India Museum in 1879","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"37","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Taken from Egerton","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"1.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Bore","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Mountain gun or wall piece with a rifled damascus steel barrel mounted on a massive wooden stock with steel rest, Lahore, 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 132, Cat. No. 663"},{"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.132","free":""}],"production":"Presented by H.H. Gulab Singh to the East India Company. 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":["3266:1/(IS)","3266:2/(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"3266","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Egerton Catalogue Number","id":"THES50387"},"number":"663"},{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"8536-'55"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-09-29","recordCreationDate":"2003-09-05","availableToBook":true}}