Arab? Musket

kahnjar1 · 6th September 2018, 09:08 PM

Hi Markku and welcome to the Forum.
The gun you have is loosely called INDO-ARAB. It is, as you will know a matchlock action and looks in nice condition overall.
Origin could be Yemen, Arabia or even Southern India as the regions are relatively close and were for centuries connected by trade.
There are others here on the Forum who I feel sure will add to my comments and probably be able to narrow down the actual origin, and also comment on the barrel marks.
Stu

Kubur · 6th September 2018, 10:03 PM

Stu is right
I would even say it's an Indo Indo.
Probably Indian...

A.alnakkas · 7th September 2018, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Stu is right
I would even say it's an Indo Indo.
Probably Indian...

The stock addition is definitely Arab. These were smuggled and traded from India, to Muscat and then to Kuwait where they spread all over the gulf. I own an example similar to this one belonging to a Kuwaiti family for many generations.

kahnjar1 · 7th September 2018, 08:59 PM

I agree with Lofty in that the butt "pad" is an Arabian feature. Your gun though (on closer inspection) seems to show better than average decoration and brass work, which would perhaps suggest stronger Indian influence than Arabian.
Attached are a couple of pics (which have done the rounds before I think) showing alternative uses for these guns. I don't believe that they have put a man in space yet

Also one showing an Arabian dance..........

Kubur · 8th September 2018, 08:34 AM

After the two last posts I have to admit my ignorance, I didn't know about koweiti guns. I was assuming that it was Indian because it wasn't Omani or Yemeni... Very interesting thank you

kahnjar1 · 8th September 2018, 09:28 AM

Hi Kubur,
If you read Lofty's post carefully, he does not say that this gun is Kuwaiti, but rather that they ended up in Kuwait as well as other places, and originated from India amongst other places.
Stu

Kubur · 8th September 2018, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Hi Kubur,
If you read Lofty's post carefully, he does not say that this gun is Kuwaiti, but rather that they ended up in Kuwait as well as other places, and originated from India amongst other places.
Stu

I did but your second photo convinced me that I might be wrong.
The thin and curve butt plate is very similar to the gun posted.
It's the nice thing with this forum: to pinpoint places and origins...

6th September 2018, 09:08 PM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	Hi Markku and welcome to the Forum. The gun you have is loosely called INDO-ARAB. It is, as you will know a matchlock action and looks in nice condition overall. Origin could be Yemen, Arabia or even Southern India as the regions are relatively close and were for centuries connected by trade. There are others here on the Forum who I feel sure will add to my comments and probably be able to narrow down the actual origin, and also comment on the barrel marks. Stu Last edited by kahnjar1; 6th September 2018 at 09:26 PM.

7th September 2018, 08:59 PM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	I agree with Lofty in that the butt "pad" is an Arabian feature. Your gun though (on closer inspection) seems to show better than average decoration and brass work, which would perhaps suggest stronger Indian influence than Arabian. Attached are a couple of pics (which have done the rounds before I think) showing alternative uses for these guns. I don't believe that they have put a man in space yet Also one showing an Arabian dance.......... Attached Images

6th September 2018, 10:03 PM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Stu is right I would even say it's an Indo Indo. Probably Indian...

8th September 2018, 08:34 AM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	After the two last posts I have to admit my ignorance, I didn't know about koweiti guns. I was assuming that it was Indian because it wasn't Omani or Yemeni... Very interesting thank you

8th September 2018, 09:28 AM	#6
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	Hi Kubur, If you read Lofty's post carefully, he does not say that this gun is Kuwaiti, but rather that they ended up in Kuwait as well as other places, and originated from India amongst other places. Stu