Jezail for comment

rickystl · 25th September 2012, 06:06 PM

Hi Berkley. I would say that you got the better of the trade.

Your Jazail looks to be a good representative example. Looks like the all the decoration is there. The sling is a plus. The Baker pattern lock, original ramrod - it all looks real good. Interesting that the barrel is tapered octagon for it's entire length. Most of the barrels on Jazails I've seen (actually quite a few) have either tapered round barrels, or tapered octagon-to-round. Yours is the first one O recall being full octagon. One thing I noticed: The vent hole in the barrel seems very large and appears to have threads. Is this true? Or is it just the photo? Would be interested to know.
Anyway, great looking piece. Much better than the one I just purchased. Thanks for Posting. Rick.

David R · 25th September 2012, 08:18 PM

Lookin' good. Decent barrel and a good lock, brass decoration rather than MOP.

Berkley · 25th September 2012, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Interesting that the barrel is tapered octagon for it's entire length. Most of the barrels on Jazails I've seen (actually quite a few) have either tapered round barrels, or tapered octagon-to-round. Yours is the first one I recall being full octagon. One thing I noticed: The vent hole in the barrel seems very large and appears to have threads. Is this true?

It is true. One internet source suggests that the use of vent liners in European firearms dates back as far as the seventeenth century. Is it possible that, contrary to usual practice, the barrel is not of local make, but rather another western trophy like the lock?

rickystl · 26th September 2012, 08:29 PM

Hi again. The size of the hole in the barrel looks too large for a vent liner. But it does look to be about the correct size for a percussion drum.
The barrel could have been European made for the local market? Although from the photos it seems more likely it was locally made. The rear sight is the most common style I see on Jezails. Turkish and Persian barrels commonly use this rear sight arrangement.
Maybe you could post a close up photo of that barrel vent area? Is there a smaller hole inside the larger one?
At the momment I'm going to go out on a limb and take a guess: It looks like the barrel at one time was perussion - or converted to percussion - and then re-converted back to flintlock. If true, makes the gun that more interesting. Hope you can get a close up pic of the vent area. Again, thanks for Posting. Rick.

Berkley · 26th September 2012, 09:42 PM

This is the best I can do, I'm afraid. Pictures were taken in direct sun with a small bore light inside the barrel as close to the breech as possible. The fibrous material inside the vent is thin, dried, encrusted, and doesn't yield to a dental pick.

Ferguson · 27th September 2012, 10:30 AM

That's really cool Berk. Congrats!
Steve

AJ1356 · 27th September 2012, 12:50 PM

That is a HUGE priming hole. The gun seems original enough to me, the wood the barrel and the lock all look old and original. From the pictures the barrell looks to me to be made of out bronze which was was something they'd have made the barrell from with locally. It is quite normal to make the barrells octagonal all the way through.

RDGAC · 27th September 2012, 01:34 PM

Looks like she's been converted from flint to percussion, then from percussion back to flint at some stage. Possibly the lock isn't original to the stock and barrel; judging by the photos I'd say that the fit between lockplate and stock isn't too neat. The stock, barrel and lock, indeed, may all be from various source guns.

The amount of remaining brass decoration is very pleasing; how bright is it? The photos seem to suggest it's moderately bright, but I think you took them with a flash on, which doesn't help. Lovely barrel; rifle or smoothbore? We have a similar, full octagonal, rifle Damascus barrel here at work. The sight looks similar to one of mine which I think is Persian, though I don't know if that'll be any use with regard to attributing an origin.

A really good piece, all in all!

Best,

Meredydd

26th September 2012, 09:42 PM	#5
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	This is the best I can do, I'm afraid. Pictures were taken in direct sun with a small bore light inside the barrel as close to the breech as possible. The fibrous material inside the vent is thin, dried, encrusted, and doesn't yield to a dental pick. Attached Images

25th September 2012, 06:06 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,629	Hi Berkley. I would say that you got the better of the trade. Your Jazail looks to be a good representative example. Looks like the all the decoration is there. The sling is a plus. The Baker pattern lock, original ramrod - it all looks real good. Interesting that the barrel is tapered octagon for it's entire length. Most of the barrels on Jazails I've seen (actually quite a few) have either tapered round barrels, or tapered octagon-to-round. Yours is the first one O recall being full octagon. One thing I noticed: The vent hole in the barrel seems very large and appears to have threads. Is this true? Or is it just the photo? Would be interested to know. Anyway, great looking piece. Much better than the one I just purchased. Thanks for Posting. Rick.

25th September 2012, 08:18 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,114	Lookin' good. Decent barrel and a good lock, brass decoration rather than MOP.

26th September 2012, 08:29 PM	#4
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,629	Hi again. The size of the hole in the barrel looks too large for a vent liner. But it does look to be about the correct size for a percussion drum. The barrel could have been European made for the local market? Although from the photos it seems more likely it was locally made. The rear sight is the most common style I see on Jezails. Turkish and Persian barrels commonly use this rear sight arrangement. Maybe you could post a close up photo of that barrel vent area? Is there a smaller hole inside the larger one? At the momment I'm going to go out on a limb and take a guess: It looks like the barrel at one time was perussion - or converted to percussion - and then re-converted back to flintlock. If true, makes the gun that more interesting. Hope you can get a close up pic of the vent area. Again, thanks for Posting. Rick.

27th September 2012, 10:30 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	That's really cool Berk. Congrats! Steve

27th September 2012, 12:50 PM	#7
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	That is a HUGE priming hole. The gun seems original enough to me, the wood the barrel and the lock all look old and original. From the pictures the barrell looks to me to be made of out bronze which was was something they'd have made the barrell from with locally. It is quite normal to make the barrells octagonal all the way through.

27th September 2012, 01:34 PM	#8
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Looks like she's been converted from flint to percussion, then from percussion back to flint at some stage. Possibly the lock isn't original to the stock and barrel; judging by the photos I'd say that the fit between lockplate and stock isn't too neat. The stock, barrel and lock, indeed, may all be from various source guns. The amount of remaining brass decoration is very pleasing; how bright is it? The photos seem to suggest it's moderately bright, but I think you took them with a flash on, which doesn't help. Lovely barrel; rifle or smoothbore? We have a similar, full octagonal, rifle Damascus barrel here at work. The sight looks similar to one of mine which I think is Persian, though I don't know if that'll be any use with regard to attributing an origin. A really good piece, all in all! Best, Meredydd