Middle Eastern/North African Musket

kahnjar1 · 25th May 2021, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

This has many similarities and also a european looking lock.

Hi Eftihis,
Yes I totally agree. Your gun could well be the twin to the one I have. What is you opinion as to origin of the one you show?
Stu

eftihis · 26th May 2021, 05:07 PM

Well, for me it is "North African" i cannot pinpoint it more precisely. Also the are was called Barbary and the current state borders did not exist in the past. I was told, because of its long barell with a small caliber that it was made for duck hunting.

David R · 26th May 2021, 08:21 PM

For duck hunting I would have thought you would use a large bore shotgun, perhaps Muslim practice was different at that time.

kahnjar1 · 26th May 2021, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

Well, for me it is "North African" i cannot pinpoint it more precisely. Also the are was called Barbary and the current state borders did not exist in the past. I was told, because of its long barell with a small caliber that it was made for duck hunting.

I agree with the North African atribution, but not sure about the duck hunting. I would perhaps suggest ground game if it is indeed meant as a sporting gun, rather than for combat.
Stu

rickystl · 27th May 2021, 05:44 PM

Hi Stu

Nice find. I agree with the Algerian origins. The stock architecture and long, tapered octagon barrel are common to other Algerian long guns. (Although I've seen a couple with octagon to round barrels). And Eftihis's gun looks like a brother to yours.
The half-stock is interesting. The other Algerian guns with the miquelet locks are typically full stocks - although the length of their forearms only travel about 2/3 rds. the distance to the muzzle. And the ramrods are wood. I always thought it would be easy to damage a wood ramrod without the fore end of the stock not traveling full length, or with some other support at the muzzle. But that's how they were built.
The two examples shown here appear to have been made as half-stocks, versus a repair from a broken fore end. Yes, maybe a blend of Algerian and Tunisian styles.
I've seen this style before with the flintlock in place of the common Algerian miquelet lock. A different variation from a different gun shop to suite a local taste I guess.
Here is one I have, although in poor condition as I bought it as a "parts" gun.
The same general stock design. But this one has the so-called 2/3rds. length stock. Just another small variation.

Rick

rickystl · 27th May 2021, 05:45 PM

Woops. Forgot the pic......

kahnjar1 · 27th May 2021, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Woops. Forgot the pic......

Yep the pic looks great!!!

Your comment above that the gun may have at some stage had a longer stock is not likely. The one I bought and the rough one which I did not, both have definitely not had longer woodwork. Kubur places this style as Tunisia/Algeria borders rather than pure Algeria.
Stu

rickystl · 27th May 2021, 07:45 PM

Hi Stu

Hmmm. Don't know what happened to the pic ?? I'll try again. Maybe my office laptop won't let me post versus my home laptop (?)

Kubur is probably right. What I like about your's is the butt stock treatment and the leather wrap holding the barrel to the stock. Has a definite tribal look to it.

I'll try the photo later.

Rick

26th May 2021, 05:07 PM	#2
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 511	Well, for me it is "North African" i cannot pinpoint it more precisely. Also the are was called Barbary and the current state borders did not exist in the past. I was told, because of its long barell with a small caliber that it was made for duck hunting.

26th May 2021, 08:21 PM	#3
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	For duck hunting I would have thought you would use a large bore shotgun, perhaps Muslim practice was different at that time.

27th May 2021, 05:44 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Hi Stu Nice find. I agree with the Algerian origins. The stock architecture and long, tapered octagon barrel are common to other Algerian long guns. (Although I've seen a couple with octagon to round barrels). And Eftihis's gun looks like a brother to yours. The half-stock is interesting. The other Algerian guns with the miquelet locks are typically full stocks - although the length of their forearms only travel about 2/3 rds. the distance to the muzzle. And the ramrods are wood. I always thought it would be easy to damage a wood ramrod without the fore end of the stock not traveling full length, or with some other support at the muzzle. But that's how they were built. The two examples shown here appear to have been made as half-stocks, versus a repair from a broken fore end. Yes, maybe a blend of Algerian and Tunisian styles. I've seen this style before with the flintlock in place of the common Algerian miquelet lock. A different variation from a different gun shop to suite a local taste I guess. Here is one I have, although in poor condition as I bought it as a "parts" gun. The same general stock design. But this one has the so-called 2/3rds. length stock. Just another small variation. Rick

27th May 2021, 05:45 PM	#6
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Woops. Forgot the pic......

27th May 2021, 07:45 PM	#8
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Hi Stu Hmmm. Don't know what happened to the pic ?? I'll try again. Maybe my office laptop won't let me post versus my home laptop (?) Kubur is probably right. What I like about your's is the butt stock treatment and the leather wrap holding the barrel to the stock. Has a definite tribal look to it. I'll try the photo later. Rick