Tipu Sultan, born in 1753, was the son of Haidar Ali, Sultan of Mysore. Instructed by French officers in his father's employ, he commanded a corps of cavalry in the Carnatic War of 1767 and later distinguished himself in the Maratha War of 1775-79. In December 1782 he succeeded his father, and following his defeat of the British (1st Mysore War, 1780-84) made peace in 1784. Following territorial expansion, the British declared war on him in 1790 culminating in Tipu's defeat near Seringapatam and the cedeing of half his territories to Cornwallis in March 1799. On the renewal of hostilities he was killed during the storming of Seringapatam on May 4th the same year.
Throughout his rule Tipu showed great ability as a leader and innovator introducing his own calendar and currency

The tiger and tiger-stripe motif (Bubri) reflect the Ruler of Mysore's obsession with this animal which is found in his weapons, his furniture and even his wardrobe. Of the weapons, swords, guns, pistols, cannon and mortars are recorded. The tiger was further incorporated into his own name, as well as that of his father, and also served as a kind of armorial bearing

The inscriptions read in translation,
on the lock:
Paltan Asad Dindar (the platoon commander Asad Sindar) and the date 3221, which corresponds to 1794 A.D. in the lunar-solar dating system in which the numerals are written in reverse

on the barrel:
the same inscription, the date 1212, which corresponds to 1783 A.D., the name Haidar (the name of Tipu's father as well as of Ali the son-in-law of the Prophet), a tughra engraved in reflex writing Asadullah Al Ghalib (the title of Ali) above Kar Khana I Huzur (Royal factory), and a Persian quatrain
"Hold the matchless royal gun
its action is more subtle than that of lightning that burns
it will take away only the lucky part that is written on the forehead of the enemy
if its target be his forehead

on the tang:
Tir 60 M 313 (the figure possibly representing a curse on the enemy)