Moroccan Musket - Restored

rickystl · 20th April 2015, 09:54 AM

Hello again. Thought I would post another gun that others may find interesting. This is a typical Moroccan Mukahla long gun from the Tetuan region. My goal for this project was to return the gun to safe firing condition, with as little restoration as necessary. The barrel and stock was cut back to a shorter length sometime back in the period. Possibly due to muzzle damage. One interesting feature is the trigger guard is brass. Most I've seen are iron. The stock was solid and the original barrel bands were in decent shape. So here are the fixes that were required:
LOCK: The frizzen (battery) spring was completely missing. A new one had to be made, copied from another original. You can't tell it was not original to the gun. Even down to the decorative file work. The inside of the lock was missing it's pan cover arm and bar. New ones were made. The mainspring was worn and too weak, so a new one was made. Along with a sear adjustment, the lock works and sparks good now. This lock, though locally made and marked, was of better quality than you normally encounter with these guns.
BARREL: The barrel was un-breached and inspected. I'm convinced this barrel is of European export origin. You could not even see where the barrel tang lined up with the barrel. Threads on the plug and breech were beautifully executed. Easily equal to European standards. A new steel .55 caliber liner was installed as well as a new front sight.
RAMROD: The ramrod was missing. But I had the "tip" of an original Moroccan ramrod (long story) that was welded and finished to a 3/16" steel rod. Fits and works fine.
So the gun is now complete and in working order. And great fun to shoot!!
Here are some pics of the finished gun. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for looking. Rick.

rickystl · 20th April 2015, 09:56 AM

Some more pics......

rickystl · 20th April 2015, 09:59 AM

And some more...........

rickystl · 20th April 2015, 10:03 AM

Last ones.....I think.

Multumesc · 20th April 2015, 10:25 AM

Musket beautiful and rare.

BANDOOK · 20th April 2015, 11:31 AM

LOVELY RESTORATION AND NICE COLLECTION,WISH I HAD THOSE SKILLS,MANY OF MY GUNS NEED THE TENDER LOVING CARE[T.L.C]
REGARDS RAJESH

Kubur · 20th April 2015, 11:56 AM

Indeed what a lovely Moroccan long gun with all the accessories!
The barrel is rare and beautiful.
One of the four kinds of Moroccan long guns, yours is from the North.

Berkley · 20th April 2015, 01:35 PM

Congratulations on a beautiful restoration, with a complete set of accessories. Thank you for sharing with us.

trenchwarfare · 20th April 2015, 02:13 PM

Nice work. Finally, a gun with it's gold inlays still in place on the barrel. They are ALWAYS missing.

kahnjar1 · 20th April 2015, 09:48 PM

Another very nice job Rick. I particularly like the correct accessories shown with the gun. Rounds off a very nice display.
Stu

Norman McCormick · 20th April 2015, 10:44 PM

Hi Rick,
Nice piece, Affedali type? The barrel looks particularly good as well as being complete with most of the stamps. I really like the snaphaunce locks on these, adds to the archaic appearance. Nice to see the bits and pieces to go with it.
Regards,
Norman.

rickystl · 29th April 2015, 09:58 PM

Thanks Norman. Yes, the big locks make lots of "clatter" when fired. Much fun to shoot!! Rick.

20th April 2015, 09:54 AM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Moroccan Musket - Restored Hello again. Thought I would post another gun that others may find interesting. This is a typical Moroccan Mukahla long gun from the Tetuan region. My goal for this project was to return the gun to safe firing condition, with as little restoration as necessary. The barrel and stock was cut back to a shorter length sometime back in the period. Possibly due to muzzle damage. One interesting feature is the trigger guard is brass. Most I've seen are iron. The stock was solid and the original barrel bands were in decent shape. So here are the fixes that were required: LOCK: The frizzen (battery) spring was completely missing. A new one had to be made, copied from another original. You can't tell it was not original to the gun. Even down to the decorative file work. The inside of the lock was missing it's pan cover arm and bar. New ones were made. The mainspring was worn and too weak, so a new one was made. Along with a sear adjustment, the lock works and sparks good now. This lock, though locally made and marked, was of better quality than you normally encounter with these guns. BARREL: The barrel was un-breached and inspected. I'm convinced this barrel is of European export origin. You could not even see where the barrel tang lined up with the barrel. Threads on the plug and breech were beautifully executed. Easily equal to European standards. A new steel .55 caliber liner was installed as well as a new front sight. RAMROD: The ramrod was missing. But I had the "tip" of an original Moroccan ramrod (long story) that was welded and finished to a 3/16" steel rod. Fits and works fine. So the gun is now complete and in working order. And great fun to shoot!! Here are some pics of the finished gun. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for looking. Rick. Attached Images

20th April 2015, 09:56 AM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Some more pics...... Attached Images

20th April 2015, 09:59 AM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	And some more........... Attached Images

20th April 2015, 10:03 AM	#4
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Last ones.....I think. Attached Images

20th April 2015, 10:25 AM	#5
Multumesc Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 203	Musket marocan - Restored Musket beautiful and rare.

20th April 2015, 11:31 AM	#6
BANDOOK Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND Posts: 624	LOVELY RESTORATION AND NICE COLLECTION,WISH I HAD THOSE SKILLS,MANY OF MY GUNS NEED THE TENDER LOVING CARE[T.L.C] REGARDS RAJESH

20th April 2015, 11:56 AM	#7
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Indeed what a lovely Moroccan long gun with all the accessories! The barrel is rare and beautiful. One of the four kinds of Moroccan long guns, yours is from the North.

20th April 2015, 01:35 PM	#8
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Congratulations on a beautiful restoration, with a complete set of accessories. Thank you for sharing with us.

20th April 2015, 02:13 PM	#9
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Nice work. Finally, a gun with it's gold inlays still in place on the barrel. They are ALWAYS missing.

20th April 2015, 09:48 PM	#10
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	Another very nice job Rick. I particularly like the correct accessories shown with the gun. Rounds off a very nice display. Stu

20th April 2015, 10:44 PM	#11
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi Rick, Nice piece, Affedali type? The barrel looks particularly good as well as being complete with most of the stamps. I really like the snaphaunce locks on these, adds to the archaic appearance. Nice to see the bits and pieces to go with it. Regards, Norman.

29th April 2015, 09:58 PM	#12
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	Thanks Norman. Yes, the big locks make lots of "clatter" when fired. Much fun to shoot!! Rick. Attached Images