Persian Musket
 

After many years of searching , I added a Persian musket to my collection . These guns rarely come up for sale in New Zealand .
This is the information AI has given me , though we can not say how accurate it is , but gives us a bit more information.
Would love to hear from members their thoughts . Stuart L also from NZ has seen some pictures and has recommended me some good ways of restoring it .
Thanks Stu
The below info is from AI
This is what AI tells me about the musket

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A Signed Qajar Kerman Workshop Percussion Toradar, ca. 1865-1878
With Damascus Barrel, Gold Koftgari Tughra, and “Kermani” Cartouche

Summary
A high-grade Persian percussion rifle of the Qajar period, attributed to the Kerman workshops of southern Iran. This 133cm “mid-length” toradar features a Damascus steel barrel with extensive gold koftgari inlay, including an owner’s tughra monogram and the classic Kerman “spade + knotwork” motif. The barrel bears a clear almond cartouche stamped “کرمانی” Kermānī, confirming Kerman manufacture. Fitted with a hand-engraved local percussion lock and a highly figured Caspian walnut stock with bone/ivory inlay, this piece represents the noble presentation grade of 19th-century Persian firearms.

Physical Description
Overall length: 1330mm / 133cm. Barrel approx. 95-100cm.
Caliber: Approx. .58-.62, smoothbore or slow-twist rifling typical for Kerman cavalry guns.
Barrel: Forged Damascus/wootz steel with visible twist pattern. Top flat inlaid with gold “zanjir” chain and vine scrollwork. Breech section with two gold koftgari panels: upper panel with interlaced owner’s tughra monogram, lower panel with Kerman “spade” motif and knotwork. Small brass or gold wire barrel band at muzzle.
Markings: Almond/teardrop cartouche on barrel breech stamped “کرمانی” Kermānī = “From Kerman”. No individual maker name, typical for workshop production.
Lock: Locally made Persian copy of British percussion lock with S-shaped cock. Entire lock plate hand-engraved with scrollwork and herringbone borders. Retains original nipple cover.
Stock: Highly figured curly Caspian walnut with strong “tiger stripe” figure. Fitted with three bone/ivory escutcheon plates at barrel keys. Buttstock decorated with traditional Baluchi/Persian bone inlay: diamond → tulip/teardrop → lattice banding. Iron scalloped butt plate.
Furniture: Four iron barrel bands with hand-filed scalloped edges. No rear sight, typical for tribal/noble guns reliant on point shooting.

Historical & Regional Context
During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar 1848-1896, Kerman Province became the premier center for Damascus barrel production and gold koftgari decoration in Persia. While Tehran and Isfahan produced court presentation guns, Kerman specialized in robust “noble grade” toradars for khans, tribal chiefs, and mounted retainers.

The 133cm length identifies this as a cavalry/mounted version, shorter than the 160cm+ Afghan jezails designed for long-range mountain sniping. The combination of Damascus barrel + gold tughra + Kermani stamp places it in the 1865-1878 period, before European Snider and Berthier rifles replaced handmade Persian guns in the 1880s.

The owner’s monogram in gold suggests commission by a Qajar noble or khan. The style of script and spade motif matches examples documented by Dr. Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani in Arms and Armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, pp. 412-418.

Condition & Conservation Notes
Metal retains stable patina with areas of original gold koftgari intact. Koftgari is fragile and should not be cleaned with solvents or abrasives. Damascus barrel shows no cracks. Stock figure is excellent with no major repairs beyond period bone inlay reinforcement. Lock functions mechanically.

Significance
Signed Kerman Damascus toradars with intact koftgari and owner’s monogram are scarce. Most surviving examples are unsigned tribal guns or later European imports. The clear “Kermani” stamp, 133cm cavalry length, and quality of gold inlay make this a representative example of Qajar provincial arms making at its peak. It serves as both a functional firearm of the period and an object of decorative art.

Very nice!

Love the damascus barrel and the inlay.

Thanks David , shall slowly do the tidy up of this musket

Thanks a lot , I gently put a lubricant on the barrel and it was hidden under the grime , neglected over time

The lock appears to be an old replacement due to the stock being filled in that shows a different lock plate outline. Could it have been originally flintlock?

Hi please see 3 muskets with Percussion cap mechanism in the Book of Islamic Arms, Robert E

Was going through old Posts , found and interesting Persian musket posted by Estcrh in 2017 posting the picture and also picture of Qusko musket both are percussion, cheers

Came across this beauty at Wallace collections
The early nineteenth century was a period of great artistic achievement in Iran. In 1797, the second Qajar king Fath-'Ali Shah inherited from his uncle a vast empire and he was keen to legitimise the rule of his dynasty. He sponsored a wide-ranging artistic programme with a clear visual style, both cosmopolitan and drawing from local traditions.
This detailed rifle barrel, made in 1846 or 1847 by Hajj Ahmad for a certain
Mu'ammar, retains the dense arabesques in gold overlay that characterise so many Qajar works of arms and armour. Here, the rifle barrel is set on a wooden stock using nielloed silver, a technique strongly associated with the Caucasus

Dear Bandook,

I have a Persian pistol very similar to your musket!

Is it the same maker??

:)

Hi Patterson beautiful pistol , the lock is of similar form . In 3rd picture I can see the barrel has a nice engraving , can you please put up some good pictures of this , so we can tell more , Thanks

Hi Patterson , some more Persian Pistols of your types