An Algerian musket ... and a translation needed?

LPCA · 1st August 2011, 07:40 AM

Hi guys,

Fernando and Norman are right for the datation: 1260 A.H. 1844 A.D.
The qualification of Algerian rifle is also right but too wide.

In fact, we find 2 types of guns in Algeria:
the first is the berber gun whose stock is less wide than the type of the berber from Tetouan and Riff (Morocco).
the other is the Kabyle gun whose stock is the more narrow of all.
Same barrel and flintlock.

Now, the berber gun knew an embargo sooner than the berber one. After the fall of the regency of Algiers (1830), french troops regained most of the arms of the conquered territories and it was no longer possible to manufacture because the barrels were no longer imported.
The model kabyle survived longer until the fall of Kabylie in 1857.

See on my site BLADE,
the Berber Tetouan model...http://blade.japet.com/14-maroc.htm
The berber algerian model...http://blade.japet.com/B-mok-twin.htm
The Algerian Kabyle model...http://blade.japet.com/B-mok-coraux.htm
as often for this type of weapon, the decoration is later than the manufacture of the gun. Here barrel is XVIII° as flintlock and decoration is AH 1290/AD 1873

Hope that help.

Louis-Pierre

fernando · 1st August 2011, 01:51 PM

Merci beaucoup pour vos renseignements, Louis-Pierre

So you remind us that, the decoration of these guns was often added at a later stage; and certainly only by those who could afford it, i would guess.
The examples in your collection are excelent and highly valuable, both due to their age and silver+coral embellishments.
I am impressed by the imported barrels with the symbolic Lazzarino Cominazzi marks.
But tell me; although my gun is of a later production, should i beleive its shorter version barrel was also imported? Probably from Spain, although its marks are only a decorative detail, i guess; even barrels on guns to be sold in Spain often had meaningless punctions, so i have read.
Your further coments will be so much welcome.

rickystl · 1st August 2011, 03:37 PM

Louis: Thanks so much for the additional knowledge. Great looking guns in your photos!! Rick.

1st August 2011, 07:40 AM	#1
LPCA Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toulouse - FRANCE Posts: 83	Hi guys, Fernando and Norman are right for the datation: 1260 A.H. 1844 A.D. The qualification of Algerian rifle is also right but too wide. In fact, we find 2 types of guns in Algeria: the first is the berber gun whose stock is less wide than the type of the berber from Tetouan and Riff (Morocco). the other is the Kabyle gun whose stock is the more narrow of all. Same barrel and flintlock. Now, the berber gun knew an embargo sooner than the berber one. After the fall of the regency of Algiers (1830), french troops regained most of the arms of the conquered territories and it was no longer possible to manufacture because the barrels were no longer imported. The model kabyle survived longer until the fall of Kabylie in 1857. See on my site BLADE, the Berber Tetouan model...http://blade.japet.com/14-maroc.htm The berber algerian model...http://blade.japet.com/B-mok-twin.htm The Algerian Kabyle model...http://blade.japet.com/B-mok-coraux.htm as often for this type of weapon, the decoration is later than the manufacture of the gun. Here barrel is XVIII° as flintlock and decoration is AH 1290/AD 1873 Hope that help. Louis-Pierre

1st August 2011, 01:51 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Merci beaucoup pour vos renseignements, Louis-Pierre So you remind us that, the decoration of these guns was often added at a later stage; and certainly only by those who could afford it, i would guess. The examples in your collection are excelent and highly valuable, both due to their age and silver+coral embellishments. I am impressed by the imported barrels with the symbolic Lazzarino Cominazzi marks. But tell me; although my gun is of a later production, should i beleive its shorter version barrel was also imported? Probably from Spain, although its marks are only a decorative detail, i guess; even barrels on guns to be sold in Spain often had meaningless punctions, so i have read. Your further coments will be so much welcome.

1st August 2011, 03:37 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Louis: Thanks so much for the additional knowledge. Great looking guns in your photos!! Rick.