Caucasian / Circassian percussion rifle?

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by rickystl

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.

Rick, if by chance you do locate someone who could repair it in the proper manner I would appreciate it, even if in another state. As discussed in a previous thread, the Persian variety of matchlock, flintlock and percussion guns seem to have simply vanished from sight. I wanted to do a thread on them but its taken me months just to find a handful of images.

When the Persians started to equip their military with modern factory made guns the old ones seem to have been stripped down and the barrels sold off around the middle east, at least that is what seems to have happened as far as I can tell. At least with Ottoman guns there are a lot of remaining flintlocks but not so with the Persian guns, they must have done something with them or they would be turning up at auctions and in collections etc.