Caucasus Pistol circa 1800, Bird Theme

[Jon MB]

Hello People,

Hope you are having a good day.

The pistol...Nice piece I picked up a while ago...sold as something different!

Inlaid bone, brass, mother of pearl....silver barrel band.

Length: 50 cm (19.6 in.)

I await your comments, I am no expert, and my books are in storage for now.

I really like items from this region though!

[Jon MB]

more pics

[Jon MB]

more

[Kubur]

I like very much your pistol!
Do you consider the possibility that your pistol might be Persian?
But I'm sure that Rick or Oliver will tell you more about it.
Best,
Kubur

[Jon MB]

Yes, could be Persian....thank you for input!

[rickystl]

Hi Jon.

That is a very nice pistol. At first glance, one might conclude this is a Caucasian made pistol. Caucasian made guns seem to heavily favor the use of Persian styled miquelet locks, such as this example. While undecorated, this lock appears robust and of good quality. While the fore end of the stock tapers to the muzzle in typical Caucasian fashion, the grip area of the butt is more like European styling, some what. With the exception of occassional small brass decorations, these pistols were mostly void of any regular use of brass. Iron or silver was favored. The ivory/bone decoration (walrus ivory was common) also seemed to follow Persian styling. Speaking of brass, that's interesting the use of a brass stud on the barrel band itself for use as a rudimentary front sight.
But, after looking closer at the great pics you posted, there are three things I notice that are not common with Caucasian pistols: 1. As mentioned, the styling of the butt stock. 2. The lack of a deep makers mark on the outside of the lock which seem to be common on all the Caucasian made locks I've seen. 3. Most notably, the barrel tang. The tang on this pistol is of a common style/length you see on most pistols with a single tang screw entering from the bottom of the stock. Every Caucasian style pistol I've seen has the long, curved barrel tang that wraps around the outside of the grip area secured with two screws entering below in the grip area (see photo below). This long barrel tang seems to be a hallmark on Caucasion pistols.
Therefore, I'm now leaning towards this pistol being of Persian origin. But I do look forward to others opinions here.
In any case, it's a really nice looking pistol that looks like it has seen regular use, but not abused. Congratulations on a nice find.

Rick

[Jon MB]

Rick, thank you for you detailed and considered response. Much appreciated.

I will start to examine Persian examples..

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Jon MB

Rick, thank you for you detailed and considered response. Much appreciated.

I will start to examine Persian examples..

I told you Rick is the man!
Plus you should look at Afghan examples, especially for the birds design...
But yours is Persian.

[Jon MB]

I was in Georgia a while back, so I had Caucasus pistols on the brain...thanks Kubur, will look at Persian and Afghan examples..

[rickystl]

Hi Jon.

Kuber exaggerates my knowledge. LOL!!
But yes, the bird and vine design was common to both.

Rick

[Jon MB]

Thank you for you assistance. In defense of my inaccurate evaluation, I had seen the following on the internet...