A short balkan musket

[Philip]

Attached are a couple of photos showing an example of a fecho de nó made in the 19th cent. for export, probably at Braga (Portugal) or Liège. It is "in the white", unused and most likely never installed on a gun. Compared to the obvious production shortcuts and fairly crude finish of the example already on the gun under consideration (not to mention late-production export trade guns from Belgium), the build quality is quite good on this one and the mechanical essentials are the same.

There was quite a market for flintlock guns in Africa down to the eve of the First World War despite the growing use of percussion systems worldwide. Because of the long Portuguese presence in some parts of the continent, there was continued demand for archaic flint systems such as this due to the strength of tradition. The complete guns varied a lot in quality; the typical trade musket was cheaply made, often with a red-painted stock studded with brass upholstery tacks and incorporating a small mirror on the buttstock. (again I refer you to Rick's post #14 showing the extremely rough quality of the locks used on such guns, and his mention of the effort needed to tune it up to work properly). However, one occasionally sees very well made ones, obviously for sale to persons of means. The popular name for these guns in Portuguese style was Lazarinos, in tribute to the Brescian family of barrel-makers who flourished a couple centuries earlier.

[Philip]

Here is a higher-class example of a 19th cent. Liège-made fowler in Portuguese style,of better quality than the average "trade" musket, with a hybrid Portuguese-French lock as explained previously

[eftihis]

Dear Philipp,
Regarding the use of flintlocks after the introduction of cupslock, i believe the main reason is the higher difficulty in aquiring cups than gunpowder. For an intependant fighter in a remote area, non supplied by an army depot, is much more easy to resupply for gunpowder, that can come for many sources and sometimes even produced localy, than to have to find gunpowder and cups, which is an industrial product.
I find extremely interesting your comment about the lazarino muskets. Here in Crete we had the term "lazarina" for localy made long muskets, copies of the French pattern in the oriental style for export as the example seen here. The name was supposely given because initially these muskets had trade barells made by the "Lazarino" or "Lazarini" brands.

[rickystl]

Philip: Thanks for the additional information ref these Portuguese style locks.
The photo of the lock on your Post #24 you can immediately see the French styling for the lock plate. Most interesting.

Eftihis: While locally made, Eastern market guns in percussion are not rare, they only turn up occasionally. The likely reason is as you mention. Availability and cost. Hard to believe flintlocks and miquelets continued in use at least through the 3rd quarter of the 19th Century in the Eastern markets.

Rick

[Philip]

Originally Posted by eftihis

Dear Philipp,
Regarding the use of flintlocks after the introduction of cupslock, i believe the main reason is the higher difficulty in aquiring cups than gunpowder. For an intependant fighter in a remote area, non supplied by an army depot, is much more easy to resupply for gunpowder, that can come for many sources and sometimes even produced localy, than to have to find gunpowder and cups, which is an industrial product.
I find extremely interesting your comment about the lazarino muskets. Here in Crete we had the term "lazarina" for localy made long muskets, copies of the French pattern in the oriental style for export as the example seen here. The name was supposely given because initially these muskets had trade barells made by the "Lazarino" or "Lazarini" brands.

That is an impressive example of a Cretan-made gun! It appears to have a higher standard of fit and finish than many Balkan guns, and the heavily French design of the stock is quite elegant, too. A wonderful piece, I hope it's yours but wish it were mine. The Oriental style is quite apparent in the numerous silver capucines holding the barrel to the stock, something not fashionable in Europe.

I agree with your comment about the relative ease of obtaining flints (which could be made locally), as opposed to percussion caps which had to be imported and could be difficult to get in remote areas. Note that the flint-knapping industry in Brandon, southern England, kept going into the early 20th century, the only such large-scale production of gunflints left in Europe at the time. Very appropriate for England, which still ran the largest colonial empire in the world and thus saw a ready demand for such products until the market finally fizzled out after the First World War.

[eftihis]

Dear Philipp, this last example is not locally made! It is 100% made in France, as aluxury gun for export to the east. The locals copied this style, with a lower quality but for sure less expensive imitation. Having said that though, i am thinking that in order for the French to make this style for export, the locals liked it.. So i dont know ηow this taste for caputcines was first developed!

[eftihis]

Again, a north African musket.

[David R]

Lots of reasons for flint and even matchlocks to continue in use. Ease of supply is one reason certainly, but problems with storage is another. Matchlocks continued in use in South America til quite recently because the humidity corroded cartridges into uselessness.
Political reasons also apply. Most Imperial governments preferred the locals to be denied modern weapons. A current example I have heard of is that native Tibetans are allowed Matchlocks but not modern guns by the Chinese government Matchlocks are adequate for hunting but are not considered a threat to the local government forces.

[rickystl]

These last photos show the lock plate was made for three screw mounting. Is there a photo of the left side of the stock ?

Rick

[Philip]

Originally Posted by eftihis

Again, a north African musket.

Thanks for the numerous photos accompanying your post. Of interest is the fluted buttstock and also a level of fit and finish that is above that of many north African guns (especially those from Morocco). Based on this I believe that the gun, in terms of origin, is European -- it looks like a lazarinha, a trade musket or fowling piece made for export in Portugal or Belgium in the century prior to the First World War. The majority of these went to the Portuguese and Belgian colonies of west equatorial Africa, not to the Maghreb. The use of dome-headed tacks as decoration is common among trade objects destined for this market, along with other objects produced in-culture.

Your gun is in very nice condition compared to most artifacts from the region and is a desirable ethnographic object reflecting its colonial history.