Miquelet-Pistol of the Osmanic Empire

[corrado26]

This pistol found today its way into my collection. It is made from massive silver and I wonder if sombody can explain me how this surface has been made. Total Length is 540 mm and the wight is 1.126 g

[Miguel]

I cant answer your question but would like to say what a beautiful pistol, absolutely fabulous thank you for sharing.
Miguel

[Kubur]

Hi
The technic is silver filigree and a bit of engraving too.
I have to say that your pistol is one of the most beautiful of this type/model that I ever seen. Your collection is amazing.
I'm not jealous but anvious!

Kubur

[fernando]

Outstanding pistol; thanks for sharing, corrado.
Kubur, are you sure this is filigree ? Isn't filigree a delicate pierced work ... whereas what we see here is solid material ? I was going to suggest a repousee work, but i am not a reliable source .

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by fernando

Outstanding pistol; thanks for sharing, corrado.
Kubur, are you sure this is filigree ? Isn't filigree a delicate pierced work ... whereas what we see here is solid material ? I was going to suggest a repousee work, but i am not a reliable source .

Hi Amigo
Repousse gives something similar but here its plain silver done with little beads polished after. You have two kind of filigree with thin wires and with little beads.

[corrado26]

Originally Posted by Kubur

You have two kind of filigree with thin wires and with little beads.

You think that all these beads have been put one after the other particularly to the surface?
corrado26

[Oliver Pinchot]

The stock is cast in silver (modeled in wax,) in sections which are then soldered together. They are finished with filing, engraving and polishing. While the forearm may occasionally be embossed and engraved, this one looks to be entirely cast. Fine example. There is no filigree evident.

Like much else that has to do with metalworking, the terms which apply to embellishment are often used indiscriminately; these links provide some specific definitions:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engraving
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repouss%C3%A9_and_chasing

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Amigo
...You have two kind of filigree with thin wires and with little beads.

You may as well have both together, but neither are present in this pistol .
Meet my Portuguese filigree Cross of Christ... if you don't mind, corrado.


.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

The stock is cast in silver (modeled in wax,) in sections which are then soldered together. They are finished with filing, engraving and polishing. While the forearm may occasionally be embossed and engraved,

For this part yes of course.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

There is no filigree evident.

Unfortunately, this filigree is very well polished.
But it is filigree.
Lot of people think that filigree is only metalwork with wires.
But not only...
All this part is silver added, filigree.

[Drabant1701]

That is a very nice pistol. Thanks for sharing!

[Kubur]

This kind of filigree is more obvious and clear to understand.

[rickystl]

Hi Corrado.

That is a beautiful Balkan pistol!!! A an outstanding example of the style.
Some observations: The general lock "style" is the most common I've seen on these pistols, as well as many others. That this lock was so widely utilized is an indication of it's reliability. I can say from personal experience that the lock does in fact perform well. Yours, of course is decorated to match the rest of the gun.
The other thing that caught my eye is the trigger. The trigger is decorated in a similar fashion of Greek pistols. Though the Greeks seemed more fond of the triggers in human type forms.
My guess is the pistol was made for either Albanian or Montenegro tastes.
Do you have a close-up of the inlay in the center of the 8 stars on the barrel ? I'm wondering if it is a Crest ?

Again, a beautiful piece. Congratulations.

Rick

[corrado26]

Thanks a lot for all your helpful comments and for rickystl fotos of the stars and the halfmoon on the barrel.
corrado26

[rickystl]

Hi Corrado.

Thanks for the additional images. The face in the cresant moon surrounded by stars in the sky. While the cresant moon shape (without the face) is common on Ottoman guns, I've seen this human face in the moon on three other guns that I recall, all Greek. This, combined with the decorative trigger may be additional evidence that this pistol may have been made for a Greek customer. Of course I'm just speculating. But it seems to make sense to me at the moment. LOL
Thanks for posting this beautiful pistol.

Rick

[rickystl]

Just as a comparison, here is one that I own. Made very similar to Corrado's.
This one has the plain trigger you see on most Albanian pistols. And you can just make out the Albanian bird crest on the breech of the barrel. So, It's likely this one was made for an Albanian customer.

Now that I think about it, mine is due for another cleaning. Seems I have to do this once a year. LOL But it's rather easy to do. The silver stock does tarnish.

Rick

[BANDOOK]

BEAUTIFUL BALKAN PISTOL AND IN GREAT CONDITION
LOVELY PISTOL RICK,PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU CLEAN UP THESE GUNS,CHEERS

[rickystl]

Hi Bandook.

On this silver stocked pistol, I just remove the lock and barrel and use spray on silver polish, wait a half minute, and wipe off with a soft towel used for polising automobiles. For the spike in the grip area after spraying on and still damp, I use a nylon bristle brush, then wipe off. Seems to work fine. And does not over polish the silver. I'll post a photo right after I clean mine. It will look closer to Corrado's. But Corrado's is in EXTRA nice condition.

Rick