Arabic Rolling Block Rifle

colin henshaw · 22nd June 2013, 05:03 PM

Interesting rifle and a good spot by Ibrahiim. So perhaps the engraved motif on the rifle represents gallows, as on the execution sword in the previous linked post ??

Here are images of late 19th century gallows at Omdurman - one a drawing from the book "Fire and Sword in the Sudan" by Rudolph Slatin and the other a photograph from "Khartoum Campaign 1898" by Bennet Burleigh...

Andreas · 22nd June 2013, 07:21 PM

Hi,
A very nice piece, and that embedded bullet...! Isn't there a date on the first pic, 1316= 1898 Gregorian? As for the Birdfeet thing, could it be a war drum, similar to this one?
A Sudanese copper drum on a carved mahogany tripod stand with stylised cloven feet. The drum by repute captured in Kitchener’s Nile Expedition in 1885 (From a past auction).
Andreas

BANTARU · 22nd June 2013, 07:31 PM

^wow that might actually make sense, especially the first pic. good job!

where do you dig up all these photographs?

trenchwarfare · 24th June 2013, 06:07 PM

Thanks guys. Excellent information. This rifle gets more interesting by the day. That first image is very powerful, Colin. Looks like the guy on the left, threw his arm out, on that last chop. Occupational hazard I guess. I'm starting to wonder, about the rawhide repair. On close examination, there are no visible hair follicles. I had thought animal leg. But maybe, human wrist?

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 25th June 2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Thanks guys. Excellent information. This rifle gets more interesting by the day. That first image is very powerful, Colin. Looks like the guy on the left, threw his arm out, on that last chop. Occupational hazard I guess. I'm starting to wonder, about the rawhide repair. On close examination, there are no visible hair follicles. I had thought animal leg. But maybe, human wrist?

Salaams trenchwarfare ~ The most likely hide material is wolf skin on the butt of a rifle... going back to the abu futtila days when it was commonly employed as a Talismanic addition. Oddly enough a lot of rifles crack at that point.. it being the likely weakspot; thus the repair.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

colin henshaw · 29th June 2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Thanks guys. Excellent information. This rifle gets more interesting by the day. That first image is very powerful, Colin. Looks like the guy on the left, threw his arm out, on that last chop. Occupational hazard I guess. I'm starting to wonder, about the rawhide repair. On close examination, there are no visible hair follicles. I had thought animal leg. But maybe, human wrist?

The author of the book "Fire and Sword in the Sudan", was Rudolph Slatin, the Austrian Governor of Darfur, until his surrender to Mahdist forces in 1883. He was a captive until his escape in 1895, and an eyewitness of the Mahdist regime.

The first illustration shows the execution of members of the Batahin tribe, who had refused to carry out the Khalifa's orders. Seemingly execution in the Mahdist period was by hanging or decapitation rather than firing-squad.

The book is certainly an excellent read for anyone interested in the historical Sudan.

22nd June 2013, 05:03 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Interesting rifle and a good spot by Ibrahiim. So perhaps the engraved motif on the rifle represents gallows, as on the execution sword in the previous linked post ?? Here are images of late 19th century gallows at Omdurman - one a drawing from the book "Fire and Sword in the Sudan" by Rudolph Slatin and the other a photograph from "Khartoum Campaign 1898" by Bennet Burleigh... Attached Images

22nd June 2013, 07:21 PM	#2
Andreas Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Ionian Islands, Greece Posts: 96	Hi, A very nice piece, and that embedded bullet...! Isn't there a date on the first pic, 1316= 1898 Gregorian? As for the Birdfeet thing, could it be a war drum, similar to this one? A Sudanese copper drum on a carved mahogany tripod stand with stylised cloven feet. The drum by repute captured in Kitchener’s Nile Expedition in 1885 (From a past auction). Andreas Attached Images

22nd June 2013, 07:31 PM	#3
BANTARU Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 39	^wow that might actually make sense, especially the first pic. good job! where do you dig up all these photographs?

24th June 2013, 06:07 PM	#4
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Thanks guys. Excellent information. This rifle gets more interesting by the day. That first image is very powerful, Colin. Looks like the guy on the left, threw his arm out, on that last chop. Occupational hazard I guess. I'm starting to wonder, about the rawhide repair. On close examination, there are no visible hair follicles. I had thought animal leg. But maybe, human wrist?