New Tanchika for comment

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by motan

Hi Stuart,
Don't know much about these muskets, but a quick search shows that these names may be interchangeable. Both are used for long muskets from Ottoman Balkans, mainly from Albania, but also from Romania, Kosovo etc. and have this specific shape of the stock, though some are mildly bent and others, like yours have an extreme bend and angle. They have been discussed previously on this forum (for example http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20426). What intregues me is if you can still see through the sights when you put it to your shoulder and if not, how are you supposed to shoot with it.
Anyway, it looks like rather old example (around 1800?).

Hi Motan.
Thanks for the additional description. I remember your gun posted in the Link. A long range variation of this gun I've never seen before. Most interesting.
For comparison, I attach a pic of one in my collection which shows the butt stock with less bent variation. Don't seem to see this variation as often.
By coincidence, I have a Tanchika barrel at the barrel smith's, and should receive it back in another 3-4 months. It will interesting to see how these hold and shoot. This one has the more extreme bend like Stuart's. I've never really understood the reasoning for the butt design. Maybe I'll figure it out while shooting. LOL
Stuart's does seem like an early example with that breech decoration. Very neat.

Rick