Boyliya with Albanian lock

[qusko]

Adding images of long Balkan musket. Seems to be boyliya, but with Albanian lock. Barrel stamped with 'M' in crown.

Appreciate any suggestions about detailed origin.

[rickystl]

Hi Gusko

That is a very nice looking Balkan musket. I see a mixture of both Ottoman and Boyliya styling with this one. Which would not be too surprising.
Many attribute the Boyliya styling to Bulgaria. And I'm leaning more in that direction with with this gun due to it's decoration and metal sheathing towards the muzzle end of the stock.

The lock has to be one of the most utilized throughout the Balkan gun making centers. This style of miquelet lock seems to show up on all kinds of guns throughout the Empire. Almost every musket and pistol from Albania that I've seen uses this same Balkan lock. Ditto the Boyliyas. I can tell you from a shooter's experience that the lock works well and is very reliable. Must be the reason for it's wide spread use.

Anyway, neat gun. I really like it. Thanks for posting. Here is a close-up of your lock:

Rick

[Kubur]

Rick said everything. It's a mixture of Boyliya and tufek.
Very nice!
I' m very curious to know more about your barrel and the face on it...
Maybe you should post it on the European forum...

[kahnjar1]

Very nice gun Gusko.
I have a question about the sling rings.....one is on the left side opposite the lock, but the other (about half way along the barrel) is on the right. Is this normal or is one fitted the wrong way?
Stu

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Very nice gun Gusko.
I have a question about the sling rings.....one is on the left side opposite the lock, but the other (about half way along the barrel) is on the right. Is this normal or is one fitted the wrong way?
Stu

Hi Kubur,
I see that the Tanchika just posted also has the rings on opposite sides, but so that the 2 threads do not get mixed up, I have replied to you here.....
Hopefully Rick will address this issue..,..
Stu

[qusko]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Very nice gun Gusko.
I have a question about the sling rings.....one is on the left side opposite the lock, but the other (about half way along the barrel) is on the right. Is this normal or is one fitted the wrong way?
Stu

Dear Stu,

Adding one more picture for you with sling ring in the middle of barrel. You will see that bigger ring is on the same side as the one on the opposite side of the lock. I have some tanchika and it has it mounted in the same way.

Barrel fastening rings seems to be not ideal as I see someone was cleaning the barrel and probably removed them. Afterwards probably it was soldered.

You can also see that wood has a different color between 2 and 3, what suggested some ring is missing (similar to 5 when it comes to width).

Quite interesting thing is that wood is nicely connected under the fastening ring 2 (because of overall length of the stock)

Qusko

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by qusko

Dear Stu,

Adding one more picture for you with sling ring in the middle of barrel. You will see that bigger ring is on the same side as the one on the opposite side of the lock. I have some tanchika and it has it mounted in the same way.

Barrel fastening rings seems to be not ideal as I see someone was cleaning the barrel and probably removed them. Afterwards probably it was soldered.

You can also see that wood has a different color between 2 and 3, what suggested some ring is missing (similar to 5 when it comes to width).

Quite interesting thing is that wood is nicely connected under the fastening ring 2 (because of overall length of the stock)

Qusko

Thanks for that. The first pic of your thread looked as if the ring was in fact on the side facing, but I guess that pic was a bit dark in that area.
Different color wood could suggest an early repair?
Stu

[qusko]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Rick said everything. It's a mixture of Boyliya and tufek.
Very nice!
I' m very curious to know more about your barrel and the face on it...
Maybe you should post it on the European forum...

Hi Kubur, good idea. Let's see if someone can advise on the barrel in European forum

[corrado26]

Originally Posted by qusko

Barrel stamped with 'M' in crown.

Sorry for not having answered before. The stamp is not an "M" but an "AM" and stands for the French gunsmith Augustin Merley of St. Etienne who was activ from 1782-1811

[rickystl]

Thanks Corodo. Most intreresting.

Rick

[qusko]

Originally Posted by corrado26

Sorry for not having answered before. The stamp is not an "M" but an "AM" and stands for the French gunsmith Augustin Merley of St. Etienne who was activ from 1782-1811

Corrado, appreciate your information about the stamp!!