A fine moroccan Musket for ID

[Dom]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

Hi Dom

Again many thanks for your help ,I don't think too that it could be Tuareg But I have seen in a book a similar example said to be from algeria but I have some doubts because I have many Algerian muskets and their lock are different
May be a menber know more about his origin

Hi Cerjak
yes your doubts are justified, myself I checked my books,
here what I deduced ;
- In Morocco, they prefer the "platine Chenapan"
- In Ageria they prefer, the "platine Miquelet"
this deduction (general view) is based on the examination of muskets known for each country,
the differences must be consecutive to supply sources

the heel of your rifle, is very similar to those of Morocco
more precisely, from "Tetuna" (North Coast)

back to Martin's suggestion ...
Tuareg's long gun ... why not, as per an exception, to confirm that
in general, the Tuareg weapons were not guns or pistols,
but essentially ;
- takouba
- ceremonial sword
- spears and javelins
- arm dagger (Telek)
- belt dagger
- shield
- and even, "offensive wristlets"

Tuareg's raids were operated in an eastern direction (Sudan)
or South to the African territories (actualy; Niger, Mali, etc.), this in order to give them the slaves they needed,
but no (or very few) firearms, in this times in these regions, also the Tuaregs began to possess fire arms, circa 1898
but it wasn't anymore traditional weapons, but European weapons, in the context of smuggling of gold, ivory, in direction of North

if this is not the "truth" at least it should not be far
references issued from, French book
- Histoire Générale de l'Afrique
"l'Afrique au XIXè siècle jusque vers les années 1880"
par Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi

all the best, Cerjak and Martin

à +

Dom

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hi Dom and Cerjak,
OK - I strike sail, guns are not my field.
But where are those old times of takoubas and teleks.....- Enclosed plese find "Tuaregs through the eye of time".
And also - where are other forumites (I mean experts for long guns) ?
Regards,
Martin

[TVV]

The only reference I have on these is Elgoods "Firearms of the Islamic World". There he describes this type as Afedali and places its origin in the Sous valley in Morocco. It would not be surprising if these were used within a much wider area though.

I am not sure of a good reference on firearms used by the Tuareg, but it seems like they had no cultural reluctance to guns and acquired them at any given opportunity. Per Smaldone, the Tuareg controlled the Northern (or Trans-Saharan) route of firearms into Hausaland, and it would seem likely that many of the guns they obtained must have been of Moroccan manufacture, as these were probably the only ones available for the most part. The French and the other colonial powers in the region did everything they could to prevent a supply of modern firearms to the Tuareg and the Sudanic empires, for obvious reasons.

Smaldone also raises a very good point: the lack of a reliable supply of cartridges for breechloaders made muzzleloaders popular in the Sahel (and likely Sahara as well), since the ammunition for them could be locally produced.

Based on the above it seems pretty safe to conclude that muskets such as the very nice subject of this thread, must have been used among the Tuareg, at least for as long as they could not obtain anything better.

[Cerjak]

Hi dom ,Martin&TVV
The problem is that except Elgoods "Firearms of the Islamic World" there is no more book I know relating Guns From Morocco ,Algeria & Maghreb.It seems that from BALKAN there it’s more documentations available and I can't understand that with the good and old relationship we had in France with those countries that I have never find a French book specialized in the study from those guns.
Not logical !

Regards
Cerjak