STRANGE MOUKALA RIFLE

[mjamerks]

Would like to hear some thoughts about this rifle.
It looks like a moukhala but has a miquelet lock.
Also the woodcarving and decorations look european.
Can this be a hunting rifle made in Nort africa,in a european style??
I have never seen one before.
Also the barrel is signed,translation would be welcome.

Let me know your thoughts!!

[Dom]

Originally Posted by mjamerks

Would like to hear some thoughts about this rifle.
It looks like a moukhala but has a miquelet lock.
Also the woodcarving and decorations look european.
Can this be a hunting rifle made in Nort africa,in a european style??
I have never seen one before.
Also the barrel is signed,translation would be welcome.

Let me know your thoughts!!

"moukhala" and not "mokhala" the last one is, a pot containing the "khol"

the "moukhala" it's not really an hunting gun
more used for festivities; fantasia is rooted in Moroccan tradition,
the fantasia is a combination of charging on horseback and "moukhala" shooting,
though it is highly spectacular, it's typically Moroccan war game

The MOKHALA (or KAHALE) is a bottle (chased silver) used to contain the KHOL
(KHOL black powder prepared from lead sulphide) which is the powder to blacken the eyes of women in Oriental countries.

your rifle has a beautiful miquelet lock, and got a strong Europeen, or even French influence for the wood carving decoration
I noticed also the very nice ramrod, in suit with the canon decor
this rifle should be from begining of 19th century

congratulations

à +

Dom

[Dom]

translation ... but ...
just for the sound, not for meaning ...
we dunno what that mean

à +

Dom

[mjamerks]

Originally Posted by Dom

translation ... but ...
just for the sound, not for meaning ...
we dunno what that mean

à +

Dom

Thanks Dom

At first I thought it was a composite piece,adjusted by a a handy european.
But the more I look at the details makes it a very nice complete rifle.
A bit ruff in quality,but very attractive.

The word SINEER or sound is strange,why would someone engrave this
on a barrel???

Martin

[Dom]

Originally Posted by mjamerks

Thanks Dom

At first I thought it was a composite piece,adjusted by a a handy european.
But the more I look at the details makes it a very nice complete rifle.
A bit ruff in quality,but very attractive.

The word SINEER or sound is strange,why would someone engrave this
on a barrel???

Martin

Hi Martin
- rough quality ?? again, have a look on ramrod, to care to have the same design than the barrel, I don't call that "standard"
- nothing strange to have an European influence, Frenchmen are on spot over there since beginning of 20th century
- "sineer" may be also, a transfer from Berber language, few people in Morocco are Arabic speakers

à +

Dom

[mjamerks]

Originally Posted by Dom

Hi Martin
- rough quality ?? again, have a look on ramrod, to care to have the same design than the barrel, I don't call that "standard"
- nothing strange to have an European influence, Frenchmen are on spot over there since beginning of 20th century
- "sineer" may be also, a transfer from Berber language, few people in Morocco are Arabic speakers

à +

Dom

Hi Dom

yes its not standard to have the same design on the ramrod.
But I have better quality examples from these kind of rifles.
In all a nice adittion to the collection.

Thanks

Martin

[rickystl]

Hello. Very unusual piece. The lock is Algerian, sometimes refered to as a toe-lock miquelet. But the butt stock is shaped more Moroccan? Really unusual. Some of the metal engraving looks like it may have been done at a later date? Never seen anything like it. Rick.