Ottoman bulbous barel wall musket

Kubur · 29th October 2016, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

Here is a 17th century (approx 1670) ottoman long wall gun (1,80cm length).This type of bulbous barell was first used in matchlocks, and this barel must be re-used from 16th century. Question is why these barels have this bulbous end? And how this gun was used? There is a strange surface on the down side as if it was attached to something else and may be used as a swivell gun.

Again, you have only beautifull things!
A lot has been said by Oliver and I'm sure Rick will answer to your other questions. I think the lock is old too. For me it's a quite homogeneous gun from the end of 17th c. as you said, including the barrel.
Best wishes

eftihis · 29th October 2016, 08:58 AM

HEre is a similar barel from the Historical and folk art museum of Rethymno in Crete.

Oliver Pinchot · 29th October 2016, 08:15 PM

Eftihis, your musket is certainly Balkan and most likely Serbian. The barrel from the Rethymno Museum is from the same region.

rickystl · 30th October 2016, 05:36 PM

Hi Eftihis.

Nice find indeed !! What an interesting wall-sized gun. It does seem the barrel from an earlier matchlock was re-used with a later stock and miquelet lock added. The re-use of older barrels being fairly common. And this would be a good example. And likely Balkan made as Oliver suggests. The interesting features I notice on this gun:
Barrel: While the so called tulip style muzzle would add strength to help prevent muzzle damage, I believe was mostly a styling exercise. You can see the two grooves on the muzzle of your barrel where the twin blades of the front sight once resided, like the barrel from the museum. The twin blade front sight picture seems fairly common on early Persian made barrels (see photo below).It's a beautiful barrel with some wonderful chisel work.
Stock: The butt stock is styled similar to a Dzefeder long gun. Which just adds to it's likely Balkan origins. What is interesting is the barrel is held to the stock with pins versus the typical barrel bands. This suggests that the older barrel was fastened to it's older original stock with pins. Thus the pin fastening method was re-utilized in making the gun in it's existing configuration. Just a theory. The barrel could be considerably older than the stock/lock. The ring on the rear, left side of the stock suggests there may have been an arrangement for some type of carrying sling. Possibly another ring or other devise towards the muzzle end, now missing. It does seem the forend of the stock may have beed cut back sometime during the period. Possibly due to damage. As the ramrod would be too short to load with.
Lock: The larger proportions of this miquelet lock tells me it was made for this gun. Or at least a wall-sized gun. The long, narrow jaws of the hammer and the pan area lacking a fence, remind me of Circassian styled locks. But I'm sure it's Balkan made. The simple, yet decorative file work on the lock is interesting. The longer support arm giving away the larger than normal size of the lock.

Again, a really nice find. Another gun I wish I had seen first. LOL

Congratulations.

Rick

29th October 2016, 08:58 AM	#2
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 511	Α Similar barel HEre is a similar barel from the Historical and folk art museum of Rethymno in Crete. Attached Images

30th October 2016, 05:36 PM	#4
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,630	Hi Eftihis. Nice find indeed !! What an interesting wall-sized gun. It does seem the barrel from an earlier matchlock was re-used with a later stock and miquelet lock added. The re-use of older barrels being fairly common. And this would be a good example. And likely Balkan made as Oliver suggests. The interesting features I notice on this gun: Barrel: While the so called tulip style muzzle would add strength to help prevent muzzle damage, I believe was mostly a styling exercise. You can see the two grooves on the muzzle of your barrel where the twin blades of the front sight once resided, like the barrel from the museum. The twin blade front sight picture seems fairly common on early Persian made barrels (see photo below).It's a beautiful barrel with some wonderful chisel work. Stock: The butt stock is styled similar to a Dzefeder long gun. Which just adds to it's likely Balkan origins. What is interesting is the barrel is held to the stock with pins versus the typical barrel bands. This suggests that the older barrel was fastened to it's older original stock with pins. Thus the pin fastening method was re-utilized in making the gun in it's existing configuration. Just a theory. The barrel could be considerably older than the stock/lock. The ring on the rear, left side of the stock suggests there may have been an arrangement for some type of carrying sling. Possibly another ring or other devise towards the muzzle end, now missing. It does seem the forend of the stock may have beed cut back sometime during the period. Possibly due to damage. As the ramrod would be too short to load with. Lock: The larger proportions of this miquelet lock tells me it was made for this gun. Or at least a wall-sized gun. The long, narrow jaws of the hammer and the pan area lacking a fence, remind me of Circassian styled locks. But I'm sure it's Balkan made. The simple, yet decorative file work on the lock is interesting. The longer support arm giving away the larger than normal size of the lock. Again, a really nice find. Another gun I wish I had seen first. LOL Congratulations. Rick Attached Images

29th October 2016, 08:15 PM	#3
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 462	Eftihis, your musket is certainly Balkan and most likely Serbian. The barrel from the Rethymno Museum is from the same region.