Ottoman pistol - need help with script on barrel

RDGAC · 12th July 2016, 03:40 PM

Hi chaps and chapesses, been a while!

We have here at the Museum come into possession of a number of firearms from the Royal Green Jackets' museum, among which is a pistol, listed in their books as "Albanian flintlock" and not much else. This is a Balkan (Ottoman) pistol with a standard-enough European flintlock (ungrooved steel), the typical Ottoman false ramrod, extensive silver wire inlay on the grip and wrist, and floral and geometric wood carving work on the stock. The barrel is octagonal and of around 18mm bore, of length 250mm, and decorated with silver inlay. In this silver inlay, there is very definitely some kind of text - but I have no idea what it says, or even what language it's in! I have uploaded an image of the text below; any help would be greatly appreciated. Further pistol pics will be forthcoming

mariusgmioc · 12th July 2016, 03:54 PM

I think you should post a photo of the whole pistol and maybe one with more light to the text.

Regards,

Marius

Jens Nordlunde · 12th July 2016, 05:53 PM

Maybe the text is easier to see on this image. But do show the whole weapon.

RDGAC · 12th July 2016, 06:03 PM

Blast you all, making me do some extra work!

Currently the pistol is in pieces. Pics incoming, probably tonight or tomorrow.

RDGAC · 13th July 2016, 04:26 PM

Pics attached below. Overall views of the pistol and some closer looks at the decorative elements.

The white stuff is a caked-on powdery substance, similar to metal polish, which I suspect to be furniture polish or similar applied a long while ago, and in far too great a quantity. I am currently endeavouring to remove this with white spirit and a lot of brushing with nylon toothbrushes, as it is (as you can see) quite hideous. It was removed relatively easily from the (nielloed) silver decorations on the barrel.

RDGAC · 13th July 2016, 04:28 PM

Few more pics.

mariusgmioc · 13th July 2016, 04:28 PM

Wow... what a beauty!

I wish I could tell you more about it, but my knowledge about Ottoman pistols is about zero.

Thank you for the photos!

Oliver Pinchot · 13th July 2016, 05:26 PM

This is Ottoman work, probably made in Istanbul; what is visible in the photo is a crescent surrounded by stars, together with a Greek "M" and the date 1221 a.h. (1805/6 c.e.) and the usual dots and curlicues. It was likely made for a Greek patron. The overtly European style also suggests this.

RDGAC · 13th July 2016, 06:27 PM

Hi Oliver, and thanks! So I can jam some of your massive knowledge into my own brain, what makes you say it's probably Istanbul work?

Oliver Pinchot · 13th July 2016, 06:50 PM

Istanbul was the seat of government and the cultural center of the Ottoman Empire. As in any capital, quality of workmanship was highly competitive, and therefore typically of excellent quality. Istanbul craftsmen had both access to European models, and multinational clients, so the formal and decorative palettes were substantially broader than in many other locations there. Finally, Greeks were prominent in Istanbul society, thus the unusual juxtaposition of Ottoman symbols and characters with Greek letters is occasionally found there.

12th July 2016, 03:40 PM	#1
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Ottoman pistol - need help with script on barrel Hi chaps and chapesses, been a while! We have here at the Museum come into possession of a number of firearms from the Royal Green Jackets' museum, among which is a pistol, listed in their books as "Albanian flintlock" and not much else. This is a Balkan (Ottoman) pistol with a standard-enough European flintlock (ungrooved steel), the typical Ottoman false ramrod, extensive silver wire inlay on the grip and wrist, and floral and geometric wood carving work on the stock. The barrel is octagonal and of around 18mm bore, of length 250mm, and decorated with silver inlay. In this silver inlay, there is very definitely some kind of text - but I have no idea what it says, or even what language it's in! I have uploaded an image of the text below; any help would be greatly appreciated. Further pistol pics will be forthcoming Attached Images

12th July 2016, 05:53 PM	#3
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Maybe the text is easier to see on this image. But do show the whole weapon. Attached Images

13th July 2016, 04:26 PM	#5
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Pics attached below. Overall views of the pistol and some closer looks at the decorative elements. The white stuff is a caked-on powdery substance, similar to metal polish, which I suspect to be furniture polish or similar applied a long while ago, and in far too great a quantity. I am currently endeavouring to remove this with white spirit and a lot of brushing with nylon toothbrushes, as it is (as you can see) quite hideous. It was removed relatively easily from the (nielloed) silver decorations on the barrel. Attached Images

13th July 2016, 04:28 PM	#6
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Few more pics. Attached Images

12th July 2016, 03:54 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	I think you should post a photo of the whole pistol and maybe one with more light to the text. Regards, Marius

12th July 2016, 06:03 PM	#4
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Blast you all, making me do some extra work! Currently the pistol is in pieces. Pics incoming, probably tonight or tomorrow.

13th July 2016, 04:28 PM	#7
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Wow... what a beauty! I wish I could tell you more about it, but my knowledge about Ottoman pistols is about zero. Thank you for the photos!

13th July 2016, 05:26 PM	#8
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	This is Ottoman work, probably made in Istanbul; what is visible in the photo is a crescent surrounded by stars, together with a Greek "M" and the date 1221 a.h. (1805/6 c.e.) and the usual dots and curlicues. It was likely made for a Greek patron. The overtly European style also suggests this.

13th July 2016, 06:27 PM	#9
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Hi Oliver, and thanks! So I can jam some of your massive knowledge into my own brain, what makes you say it's probably Istanbul work?

13th July 2016, 06:50 PM	#10
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 457	Istanbul was the seat of government and the cultural center of the Ottoman Empire. As in any capital, quality of workmanship was highly competitive, and therefore typically of excellent quality. Istanbul craftsmen had both access to European models, and multinational clients, so the formal and decorative palettes were substantially broader than in many other locations there. Finally, Greeks were prominent in Istanbul society, thus the unusual juxtaposition of Ottoman symbols and characters with Greek letters is occasionally found there.