Who knows details of Dahomean 'lock covers"?

[chicklewis]

A few of the available 28mm Dahomean figures include what appears to be a truncated cone device surrounding the musket.  I imagine it may be a 'lock cover' but am not sure.  Who can tell us definitively what these are, from what they were created, and perhaps notes on colors.  My Google-Fu is weak, and I cannot even find any good period photographs.   

Chick

[Plynkes]

Seems to be brown leather with a touch of decoration (possibly sea shells?), if this pic is reliable:




Edit: I have no other information about these things. I managed to stumble upon this pic, but it had no context other than 'Infantryman of the Kingdom of Dahomey during the Franco-Dahomey Wars in the 1890s.'

European covers of this sort were sometimes made of leather, so it seems reasonable they'd use similar materials in Africa. That's all I have.


Must say, I love that one fellow's fish hat. I want one.

[chicklewis]

Very nice plate, Plynkes !

Chick

[Diablo Jon]

This is photo is apparently an Ashanti, who were Dahomey's next door neighbours, it looks like he has a cover on his musket but it looks pretty plain. I have no evidence but I wondered  if the covers were to protect the lock and powder of the Muskets as that area of west Africa gets some of the highest rainfall on the continent.

[Diablo Jon]

Etching of Ashanti warriors with the covers again.

[carlos marighela]

Hopefully Dahomean lock covers wasn't a spoonerism.

Still, consenting adults and all that.

[Plynkes]

Oh Carlos, you devil.