Caucasian / Circassian percussion rifle?

[estcrh]

I won this on yesterdays Morphys auction, I was originally going to bid on an Ottoman military sword but when I saw how high the bids were on some of the other swords I decided to bid on this just in case. Having looked for images of these Caucasian / Circassian firearms before I know how hard it is to find images, let alone information. I was hoping from the auction photos that someone could confirm that this is what it was described as since I can not tell the equally hard to find Persian versions from the Caucasian / Circassian ones.

Caucasian Percussion Rifle.
Caliber .70, 32-1/2" barrel. Single shot percussion rifle with a two-stage barrel with three brass capucines, one mould ring and one German silver band at breech. Highly figured stock with bone or ivory inlays at wedges, sides of tang and two lines around butt. Steel ramrod. Circular butt plate with screw and plate. Showing wear and age patina. Stock needs splice repair, as does lock.

[Oliver Pinchot]

This is actually Persian, Eric.
How to tell? It's difficult. The Persian form was adopted early on in the Caucasus, the primary differences being that the butt *generally* (but not invariably) drops more than the Caucasian and is *generally* (but not invariably) round in cross section (the Caucasian is most often oval.) Caucasian gun butts can also have a narrower, almost parallel profile.

Embellishment is usually, but not always, a good indicator of the region from which one of these comes. Persian guns tend to be decorated more simply, usually with bone or ivory geometrical inlays. They may also have fewer barrel bands, which are more often iron or brass. In the Caucasus, silver mounts, (plain, engraved, nielloed, and/ or gilded) were more often used.

The standout indicators here, however, are that your gun is fitted with a percussion lock and triggerguard, much more common in Persia and India than in the Caucasus, where miquelet locks with an unguarded, button trigger, continued in use up to the early 20th century.

While both types will often have finely wrought and embellished barrels, Persian longarms are often smoothbore, making them muskets, while Caucasian guns are often (but again, not always) rifled.

These are simply guidelines, unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Oliver Pinchot

This is actually Persian, Eric.
How to tell? It's difficult. The Persian form was adopted early on in the Caucasus, the primary differences being that the butt *generally* (but not invariably) drops more than the Caucasian and is *generally* (but not invariably) round in cross section (the Caucasian is most often oval.) Caucasian gun butts can also have a narrower, almost parallel profile.

Embellishment is usually, but not always, a good indicator of the region from which one of these comes. Persian guns tend to be decorated more simply, usually with bone or ivory geometrical inlays. They may also have fewer barrel bands, which are more often iron or brass. In the Caucasus, silver mounts, (plain, engraved, nielloed, and/ or gilded) were more often used.

The standout indicators here, however, are that your gun is fitted with a percussion lock and triggerguard, much more common in Persia and India than in the Caucasus, where miquelet locks with an unguarded, button trigger, continued in use up to the early 20th century.

While both types will often have finely wrought and embellished barrels, Persian longarms are often smoothbore, making them muskets, while Caucasian guns are often (but again, not always) rifled.

These are simply guidelines, unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules.

Oliver I was actually hoping that it was Persian but due to the limited amount of images available online I could not be sure, your book on the Wagner collection was the first place I looked, thanks for the info!!!

[rickystl]

Hi Estcrh.

What a nice find !!! Congratulations !!!! And I fully agree with Oliver's assessments above. I have found that Persian made -complete long guns - are even more difficult to locate than their Caucassion counterparts. Which is probably the reason for the difficulty in locating other Persian specimens.
Also, the gun should be a fairly simple restoration, should you decide to do so.
Again, really nice find.

Here is a pic of both a Caucasion and Persian long guns for comparison.
Rick

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Estcrh.

What a nice find !!! Congratulations !!!! And I fully agree with Oliver's assessments above. I have found that Persian made -complete long guns - are even more difficult to locate than their Caucassion counterparts. Which is probably the reason for the difficulty in locating other Persian specimens.
Also, the gun should be a fairly simple restoration, should you decide to do so.
Again, really nice find.

Here is a pic of both a Caucasion and Persian long guns for comparison.
Rick

Rick, thanks for your input, I did not see this one until the very last minute so I did not have much time to do any research. Needless to say, searching for "Persian" rifle, musket, matchlock, flintlock, percussion etc did not bring up many images. The round butt made me wonder if it was Persian but then I thought that there was no way they could mis-discribe it so badly.

Both of your examples are awesome, and quite rare, thanks for showing them.

I would like to at least have the stock repaired, any suggestions? I do not know of anyone were I live (Louisiana) who works on antique guns.

[estcrh]

While we are at it, how about this one, the owners says it is Caucasian but it seems to have a round butt, any chance this is Persian?

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Rick, thanks for your input, I did not see this one until the very last minute so I did not have much time to do any research. Needless to say, searching for "Persian" rifle, musket, matchlock, flintlock, percussion etc did not bring up many images. The round butt made me wonder if it was Persian but then I thought that there was no way they could mis-discribe it so badly.

Both of your examples are awesome, and quite rare, thanks for showing them.

I would like to at least have the stock repaired, any suggestions? I do not know of anyone were I live (Louisiana) who works on antique guns.

Yes, the break in the forearm would be worth repairing. And the lock may need some work while at it. My gunsmith would be great for this, but he is down with medical issues at the moment. And lives in New Hampshire. But Louisiana is a popular state for muzzle loading shooters, and I should be able to locate someone for you. I'll PM you after I check my sources.
I still agree with Oliver that your gun is Persian. That it was made as a percussion, likely dates the gun post 1850. The more Europen style trigger and guard show just a bit of Western influence. A very interesting gun and worth a repair.
Rick.