From the hands of the Riffs.

David R · 31st August 2012, 12:16 AM

A little while ago the subject arose of Western guns used in the Middle East and North Africa, and the decoration they could have....so here's mine. A Gras that has been in the hands of the Riffs by the look of it, and one with a fair old history behind it, note the crowned N in the last pic, like many Gras' this is a reworked Chassepot.
This turned up at an open air antique fair, on a table with a rather nice Kabyle and a dozen gas pipe specials. I bought this, my friend the Kabyle and then we ran away.

trenchwarfare · 31st August 2012, 04:27 AM

That's pretty cool David. I used to own this one.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 31st August 2012, 05:53 PM

Salaams all ~ Here the two Arabized Chassepots show some interesting features .. Gun at #1 Butt decorated in brass studs... Brass studs were a sort of poor mans gold decorative item (think Gold the Sun, Silver the Moon) adorning guns and furniture like wedding chests and tables. A lot of studs found their way about the globe as ballast in ships. The incantation of "God" seems to appear as the final word studded on the Butt section. Silver decorates the woodwork and the narrow neck of the Butt and as strengtheners ... in both cases likely to be low silver with high copper content.
#2 decorated in moon and star motifs; the moons having 5 studs (5 a lucky number) and unusually in copper; not brass or silver.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

David R · 1st September 2012, 12:56 AM

Thanks for this....it never occured to me that the studs were in anything but a random pattern. I love this site. I think here is a unique resource, and one I constantly recommend to my friends .

31st August 2012, 12:16 AM	#1
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	From the hands of the Riffs. A little while ago the subject arose of Western guns used in the Middle East and North Africa, and the decoration they could have....so here's mine. A Gras that has been in the hands of the Riffs by the look of it, and one with a fair old history behind it, note the crowned N in the last pic, like many Gras' this is a reworked Chassepot. This turned up at an open air antique fair, on a table with a rather nice Kabyle and a dozen gas pipe specials. I bought this, my friend the Kabyle and then we ran away. Attached Images

31st August 2012, 04:27 AM	#2
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	That's pretty cool David. I used to own this one. Attached Images

31st August 2012, 05:53 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Salaams all ~ Here the two Arabized Chassepots show some interesting features .. Gun at #1 Butt decorated in brass studs... Brass studs were a sort of poor mans gold decorative item (think Gold the Sun, Silver the Moon) adorning guns and furniture like wedding chests and tables. A lot of studs found their way about the globe as ballast in ships. The incantation of "God" seems to appear as the final word studded on the Butt section. Silver decorates the woodwork and the narrow neck of the Butt and as strengtheners ... in both cases likely to be low silver with high copper content. #2 decorated in moon and star motifs; the moons having 5 studs (5 a lucky number) and unusually in copper; not brass or silver. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

1st September 2012, 12:56 AM	#4
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Thanks for this....it never occured to me that the studs were in anything but a random pattern. I love this site. I think here is a unique resource, and one I constantly recommend to my friends .