help identifying writing system

fernando · 28th September 2005, 07:58 PM

Thank you so much.
Could i infer that there is ( at least ) a third word in the midle of the inscription, like the whole text meanning: Made by "Abdulah" ( in the year ) 1220 ? This would already be encouraging!
Isn't Islamic year 1220 equivalent to Christian 1842 ?
This would reduce the span between the aparent oldness of the barrel and lock, and the newness of the stock. I stress this point, as the decoration on the barrel is not continuous, but divided in sections, with border lines perfectly aligned with the barrel bands angular format and position. This is only achieved with an intrinsecal first mounting ... very unlikely the restocking smith would achieve or care for such a precision, making invisible any marks of bands readjustment, or their matching with the engraving borders.
This to say that, to my non expert view, if the stock is newer than the rest, on wich i actually agree, we can not exclude that this was the first one that was fitted on the pistol, which is not so unusual in this type of weapons, often made with parts of various origins and generations.
Also peculiar to me is the counter lockplate, wich is made in thin brass sheet ( not shown in the pictures ), in the same material, with the same patina with precisely the same puncture decoration as the barrel bands ... so not a later repair.
On the other hand , the bass trigger guard seems to be from a different family, with a floral deep engraving.
Sorry to be so long, and probably so wrong.

28th September 2005, 07:58 PM	#12
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you so much. Could i infer that there is ( at least ) a third word in the midle of the inscription, like the whole text meanning: Made by "Abdulah" ( in the year ) 1220 ? This would already be encouraging! Isn't Islamic year 1220 equivalent to Christian 1842 ? This would reduce the span between the aparent oldness of the barrel and lock, and the newness of the stock. I stress this point, as the decoration on the barrel is not continuous, but divided in sections, with border lines perfectly aligned with the barrel bands angular format and position. This is only achieved with an intrinsecal first mounting ... very unlikely the restocking smith would achieve or care for such a precision, making invisible any marks of bands readjustment, or their matching with the engraving borders. This to say that, to my non expert view, if the stock is newer than the rest, on wich i actually agree, we can not exclude that this was the first one that was fitted on the pistol, which is not so unusual in this type of weapons, often made with parts of various origins and generations. Also peculiar to me is the counter lockplate, wich is made in thin brass sheet ( not shown in the pictures ), in the same material, with the same patina with precisely the same puncture decoration as the barrel bands ... so not a later repair. On the other hand , the bass trigger guard seems to be from a different family, with a floral deep engraving. Sorry to be so long, and probably so wrong.