Albanian Tanchika

[kahnjar1]

What a beautiful gun Rick. The original sellers pics did not do it justice IMHO, but DID give some hint of the quality. Your pics just confirmed that this Tanchika just HAD to join your others!
A question.......What is the purpose of the indentation towards the end of the rammer?
Stu

[Kubur]

Hi Rick,

waow really beautifull, finelly carved, with really nice silver barrel bands...
no loss expect the four coral stones, one of the best that i ever seen on this forum...
I got one too that I have to post once i'll receive it...

Kubur

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Rick,

waow really beautifull, finelly carved, with really nice silver barrel bands...
no loss expect the four coral stones, one of the best that i ever seen on this forum...
I got one too that I have to post once i'll receive it...

Kubur

Hi Kubur !!

Thanks for the comments. And, very observant of you to notice the small missing stones, two on each side. You know, I totally missed this. Thanks.
Coral stones ? Hmmmm. Or maybe turquoise ? I realize both were used for decoration throughout much of the Ottoman Empire. But I seem to only remember Coral stone on Ottoman/Moroccan/Algerian arms. Don't recall the same on Albanian weapons. But I could be wrong. What do you think ?

Rick

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Kubur !!

Thanks for the comments. And, very observant of you to notice the small missing stones, two on each side. You know, I totally missed this. Thanks.
Coral stones ? Hmmmm. Or maybe turquoise ? I realize both were used for decoration throughout much of the Ottoman Empire. But I seem to only remember Coral stone on Ottoman/Moroccan/Algerian arms. Don't recall the same on Albanian weapons. But I could be wrong. What do you think ?

Rick

Hi Rick,

You might be wrong. I haven't seen turquoise on Albanian weapons.
On your gun I've seen red beads, mother-of-pearl and coral.
Please look at my pistol, the coral is still preserved...

Kubur

[rickystl]

Hi Kubur

OK. We will eliminate turquoise from the list. I forgot that one of my other Tanchika's has mother-of -pearl in the butt stock. This would probably be the easier route since I have a good supply of tiny MOP, round pieces I could use.
But my first choice would be the red/pink coral. I have some genuine pink coral beads, but the shape and size are too large. Doing some research, it seems the coral beads this small seem to be made of glass versus the real stone. Especially in the tiny 3mm or smaller. Hmmm. I'll see what else I can locate. Thanks for your help.

By the way, that's a great example of a rat tail pistol !!

Rick

[Kubur]

Hi Rick

Look at this tanchika, you can see the little red beads and mother-of-pearl, I think its what you need...or just let it as it is, it's a very nice gun.

[rickystl]

Hi Kubur

Thanks for the pics. That's a nice Tanchika with lots of open work brass decoration.
Under magnafication, I can see that there was indeed some type of decorative bead or other in the holes. Strange they are missing considering the condition of the gun.
I think the red colored beads would look best, and be appropriate. So I'm going that route. I'll keep you informed.

Thanks again for the pics. Rick

[Philip]

CONGRATS, RICK !! This is as close to being an out-and-out "screamer" as they come. I like the exceptional work on the lock, and the precision of decoration on substantial fittings. Welcome relief from the run-of-the-mill half-hearted fit and finish on most Balkan guns on the market today. You did very well on this. It looks clean enough to shoot! (at least to fire a blank salute on Skanderbeg's birthday.) Have you checked the bore

[Battara]

And I LOVE the silver repousse work! 😃

[Bob A]

The most elegant flintlock I've ever seen. Congratulations on your find.

[Treeslicer]

IMHO, the frizzen doesn't show any signs of having been used. Does this weapon look unfired to anyone else?

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Treeslicer

IMHO, the frizzen doesn't show any signs of having been used. Does this weapon look unfired to anyone else?

Rick's original preamble above suggests that it HAS been fired, but not often. The frizzen would not show wear after a few uses as flint, whilst hard, is not as hard as iron/steel. Either way it is an absolutely top notch example of a Tanchika.
Stu

[Treeslicer]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Rick's original preamble above suggests that it HAS been fired, but not often. The frizzen would not show wear after a few uses as flint, whilst hard, is not as hard as iron/steel. Either way it is an absolutely top notch example of a Tanchika.
Stu

Not wanting to start any controversy, but quartz (flint is a microcrystalline form of quartz) is harder than steel. Siliceous stones are commonly used to sharpen swords. Flintlocks work by using the sharp edge of the flint to slice away extremely tiny slivers of the steel frizzen, and set them on fire by impact/friction heating, making sparks of burning iron. This is why frizzens wear out through use. I've owned enough flintlocks to know that any "clatch" leaves scratches and other marks. A "habitant" like myself will get right nasty if a visiting "whuffo" attempts to dry fire one of our pieces at a rendezvous or other re-enactment.

Wasn't saying anything bad about the firearm, just saying it looks unused. A right pretty piece.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Treeslicer

Not wanting to start any controversy, but quartz (flint is a microcrystalline form of quartz) is harder than steel. Siliceous stones are commonly used to sharpen swords. Flintlocks work by using the sharp edge of the flint to slice away extremely tiny slivers of the steel frizzen, and set them on fire by impact/friction heating, making sparks of burning iron. This is why frizzens wear out through use. I've owned enough flintlocks to know that any "clatch" leaves scratches and other marks. A "habitant" like myself will get right nasty if a visiting "whuffo" attempts to dry fire one of our pieces at a rendezous or other re-enactment.

Wasn't saying anything bad about the firearm, just saying it looks unused. A right pretty piece.

I stand corrected. Just goes to show that we are all still learning. I had always understood that steel/iron was harder than flint, and it was the flint which sparked rather than the steel/iron.

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Battara

And I LOVE the silver repousse work! 😃

Thanks Batarra. Yes, the silver work is wonderful on this one. Also, the extra engraving on the lock hammer you don't usually see on these locks. This gun seems to have gone the extra mile by the builder/owner. LOL

Speaking of which.......there is only a small makers mark on the lockplate. There is no marks on the barrel, possibly due to all the decoration (?) But maybe a mark on the bottom of the barrel. I will check that out in due course.

Rick

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

What a beautiful gun Rick. The original sellers pics did not do it justice IMHO, but DID give some hint of the quality. Your pics just confirmed that this Tanchika just HAD to join your others!
A question.......What is the purpose of the indentation towards the end of the rammer?
Stu

Hi Stu

Thanks for the kind comments. Ramrod: The hole in the end of the rod is of course for a cleaning patch. The circular type cuttings are decorative, and facilitate the hand grip while pulling the ramrod from the stock.

Rick