Fake pistols with real locks, real pistols with fake locks

[corrado26]

Woops.........here's the third one. Most common you see.

A pistol normally is a firearm, a piece that has a special function. Your third example is no pistol with any function but a functionless piece of wood with metal applications. Those pieces you got in the 1980s as a gift when you has bought a carpet in a German Bazar.
corrado26

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by corrado26

A pistol normally is a firearm, a piece that has a special function. Your third example is no pistol with any function but a functionless piece of wood with metal applications. Those pieces you got in the 1980s as a gift when you has bought a carpet in a German Bazar.
corrado26

Hi Corrado.
You are so right. I can't believe how many of this same tourist gun I've seen. They all look alike. That's what made me think that all of this particular style were made (and maybe still are?) in the same shop. LOL
Rick.

[rickystl]

OK. Here is an extreme example (if not textbook) of what I was mentioning above.
The photos below show a pair of so called pistols for sale. The title was: Pair of Silver-Inlaid Flintlock Pistols. The description includes that the locks are rusted internally and do not function. And they estimate that the pistols were made in 1750-1820. The seller had a minimum starting bid of $1,500.00USD (with no Reserve), and a Buy Now price of $4,000.00USD. LOL !!!!!
They were being offered by an antique shop that obviously has no idea what they had. Don't think I would have had the heart to tell them. LOL!!!
But this is one of the best examples I have seen.
Rick.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by rickystl

The seller has a minimum starting bid of $1,500.00USD (with no Reserve), and a Buy Now price of $4,000.00USD. LOL !!!!!
They are being offered by an antique shop that obviously has no idea what they have.
Rick.

Yes very often when they don't know, they always say Italian or French pistols 18th c.
and they are most of the time Ottoman Balkans 19th c.
The decoration on the lock and the barrel are always the same, so it's better to be suspicious when someone see this kind of silver paint...
Best,
Kubur

[Kubur]

Another set sold recently
There is another kind of pistol tourist made its the pistol axe, I will try to find an example, but i'm ure you know what I mean...

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Another set sold recently
There is another kind of pistol tourist made its the pistol axe, I will try to find an example, but i'm ure you know what I mean...

Yes, some more good examples. The bone/imitation ivory stocked one in the middle: Looks like it may have utilized some original parts (?) At first, I thought the miquelet lock might be an original lock. But the pieces look like castings versus forgings. So it may be just a better made copy ? Note the lock is simply attached to the right side of the stock with modern wood screws instead of being mounted on the left side with lock plate bolts as would an authentic shooting piece.

Here is a pic of the tourist gun with the "axe" head butt you mention. This paticular example was sent to my gunsmith by someone who wanted it rebuilt to a shootable gun. So he inlet a new contemorary made lock and barrel, and added a sheet brass barrel band. I told my gunsmith: And you think I had some strange projects !!! LOL !!!

Rick

[Rumpel]

The mother of pearl and 'silver' wire 'Ottoman' pistols are ubiquitous in Greek 'antique' and souvenir shops (see pic). I expect a lot of the weathering on some examples is due to being displayed outdoors, for years, in rathe haphazard conditions... I wonder if they're Turkish-made?

As for Morocco and Afghanistan: in both Chicken Street and the suqs in Marrakesh and Fez, you can see various examples of highly-decorated muskets and pistols, often composed of new barrels and locks (and silverwork/mother of pearl) attached to seemingly old and well-worn stocks- upcycling, if you will.

I was tempted, in Kabul, to commission jezail-type decoration onto a new Martini-Henry just for an odd wallhanger, but I'd never get it back into the UK

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Yes very often when they don't know, they always say Italian or French pistols 18th c.
and they are most of the time Ottoman Balkans 19th c.
The decoration on the lock and the barrel are always the same, so it's better to be suspicious when someone see this kind of silver paint...
Best,
Kubur

Yes, I know what you mean. I know of at least two authentic Ottoman pistols currently for sale that are described as Italian/European. But of course they're not. And they are priced as European, which is why they never sell.
Rick.