Dramatic pattern weld on Turkish barrel
 

This Ottoman barrel has a beautiful pattern weld of a complex pattern. India, Turkey, Russia and many more countries all had some great artisens making complex pattern welded weapons. The craftsmanship simple amazes my tiny mind.....

More pics at: http://turkishmiquelet.blogspot.com/


rand

BEAUTIFUL :cool:

Pattern welded barrels are interesting here is a few more patterns. One is on a square barrel

Thank you posting this beautiful barrel Rand!
The square barrel seems really unusual, is this form indicative of a certain period or weapon form or favored by any particular group? Is there any significance as far as the reason for the square shape?
As you can see I'm ballistically tone deaf :)
All the best,
Jim

wealthy people always wanted something unusuall. This particular one is indian early 19th century. I have another one that I have not definatly figured out origin of. I have even seen a square barrell that fired square bullets. These are the only 3 I have ever seen

Thanks Ward! Now a square gun firing a square bullet? Thats really unusual...love to see CSI on a case with that one!! :)
Best regards,
Jim

Patteern Weld Barrel
 

Ward,

The square barrel mughal rifle form the Figiel sale purchased by Bob Hale never left the USA, mostly because of ivory related export problems. Square barreled gun are indeed very scare, and that also has a square bore, thats a rare puppy. Have never seen an Islamic one like that.

There are examples of early European guns that have heart, diamond and club, and spade shaped bores also in a slow twist, just amazing to think about. Reason for shape of bore on those was listed as talismanic.

Great examples of barrels Ward, thanks for posting those. Believe you are right on the mark about people of wealth wanting something different.

rand

I have a few pieces from Figiel. I will post a few pics of the full rifles when I get a chance

i'M unsure, but the square one appears to maybe be a faked pattern.

Square Barrel Pattern
 

Hi Tom,

Have to respectfully disagree with you Tom, the etched pattern on the square barrel looks very good. There are also a few similar varients of that pattern, one being from a firearm identified as being from Tibet where the etched pattern weld hints of being a stylized cloud in appearance.

Josh,
Could you post you pic of the Tibetan rifle here?

One thing I would like to hear opinions on is age. Have yet to see a clear chronolgy of miquelet and earlier Islamic firearms. We have distinction for different sttyles of miquelet locks by region. Most miquelets rifle are identified as simply 18th century or circa 1800. The matchlock Turkish musket is even more mysterious, with little information on bore.

rand

no It is not a acid etched pattern. just a well made pattern weld

Display of Pattern
 

Hi Ward,

Are you saying the pattern welded barrel design is brought out by polishing only?

My understanding is the barrels were polished and then etched in an acidic soultion to bring out the pattern clearly.

In no way am I inferring this barrel to be a type of "false damacus", its a rare and amazing example of a Turkish firearm.

Ward,
Can you show photo's of the locks? Am assuming they are mounted with a type of miquelet lock.

rand

you are corect I was saying the pattern was not carved in wax and then acid etched as in false damacene . I will get some pics up soon

Rand,
That barrel is worth reproducing. Another smith is coming to my shop this winter and we were planning on making some barrels. I would enjoy as many pictures as you can provide...especially of the breech and the end of the barrel.
What it looks like you have there is double row of twisted which has been ground to about 30% its thickness to get that star pattern to show well. The straight laminate is along side and it appears from what I can see in the reverse twist that there are eight sections (like and orange) -- four of the double twist and four of the straight. It is not simple to make the orange sections, but to do a reverse twist on the barrel is something difficult indeed..prone to welding shear.

Ward,
That last picture is a nice accordion folded jelly roll...not a simple thing to do.

Would you folks please also share full pictures of these wonderful puppies! :D

Turkish Miquelet Pics
 

More Turkish Miquelet Pics...

More Miquelet pics
 

More Miquelet Pics

Larger Files on Blog
 

hi Ric,

The image size is larger on my blog so the enlargement is a bit clearer, hope it helps... Hope to get a good digital camera soon to take large file size images coupled with a quality lens. Being able to share very clear images that you can study in detail would made out hobby/passion that much better.

http://turkishmiquelet.blogspot.com/

rand

Congratulations Rand, this is a true piece of art!!! :)

Lovely barrel, Rand.

Lovely gun altogether! Thank you for sharing the pictures with us.
How long is the barrel?

Richard.

Barrel
 

Barrel is about 34" from tip to rear of sight... Any opinions as to age of this firearm?

rand

Many many thanks Rand. 18thc? That is why I love Ottoman stuff - so much artwork and craftsmanship. :D