ALGERIAN KABYLE MUSKET for Comment

kahnjar1 · 16th June 2017, 07:39 AM

A recent addition to my collection is this Algerian Miquelet Kabyle Smoothbore Musket. Bore is approx .50. Probable age mid 19th century.
Profusely covered with nice inlaid very thin brass decoration and corals. Unfortunately some of the decoration has been lost over time, but the majority remains.
Comments welcome.
Stu

Kubur · 16th June 2017, 05:34 PM

Well well well it's a pure beauty.
The most typical Algerian rifle, in very good condition.
If you don't have the book Gold and Coral, you should buy it immediately.
You will see plenty of them, exactly like yours...
I think that the lock was decorated and some brass or silver is missing.

TVV · 16th June 2017, 06:56 PM

Stunning gun Stu, congratulations.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 17th June 2017, 12:48 AM

Another Algerian ... A toe Lock ...Perhaps someone can tell me the difference ?
Placed to emphasis the decorative coral technique (similar to the one above) on Algerian weapons...

Described as AN ALGERIAN SILVER-MOUNTED TOE-LOCK MUSKET, SECOND QUARTER OF THE 19TH CENTURY with engraved barrel retained by five silver bands repous,e with scrollwork, fitted with silver back-sight and with a further band of silver over the breech, iron lock inset with chased silver panels, cut with a brief numeric inscription beneath the cock (possibly including the date 1259 A.H. for circa 1843/44), retaining its embroidered silk hand-guard, figured hardwood three-quarter stock inlaid with a running pattern of silver foliage enriched with coral leaves over its full surface, three engraved silver flowerhead side-nail washers, engraved brass butt-plate inlaid with coral en suite, and wooden ramrod with large silver tip matching the barrel bands 92.4cm; 36Gin barrel. From http://www.thomasdelmar.com/Catalogu...1205/page2.htm Auctioned more than 10 years ago.

On the subject of Coral Decoration please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19669 at # 25.

Battara · 17th June 2017, 04:16 AM

How wonderful! Zukran for posting this! (I just LOVE corals!

)

Philip · 17th June 2017, 06:45 AM

The term "Algerian toe lock" is often applied by collectors to these mechanisms, but in actuality, this is something of a misnomer. For one thing, locks powered by an external mainspring that pushes DOWN on the "TOE" of the cock are not restricted to Algeria; the common "focile alla romana" of central Italy and the locks found on a number of 17th cent. French and Austrian breechloaders also share this characteristic.

Spain is the birthplace of the external-mechanism flintlock systems common to much of North Africa, the Ottoman Empire, the Caucasus, and Iran. In most places, it is the "patilla" (little foot) or "a la española" type that is characteristic; the mainspring pushes UP on the HEEL of the cock and the sear (linkage between trigger and cock) system is more direct and robust. These are commonly known to collectors as "miquelets", which arises from a 19th cent. neologism.

The Algerian lock, also of Spanish origin, is an interesting exception not only mechanically but developmentally. Its antecedent is a short-lived Spanish type called "agujeta" because the sear arrangement consisted of elongated pivoting bars with ends that went through holes in the lockplate and were thus likened to needles. (J D Lavin, "A History of Spanish Firearms" (1965) pp 170-172, also "Spanish Agujeta-lock Firearms" in ART, ARMS, AND ARMOUR (ed Robt Held, 1979). In Spain, the agujeta was in vogue only for the latter half of the 17th cent., disappearing by the early 18th, but enough of them must have made their way to al-Maghrib to become popular if not iconic in Algeria through the end of the 19th cent. Stylistic similarities, including elongated cock jaws, wing-shaped jaw screw finials, shape of priming pan bridle, outsized mainspring, and a dog catch safety hook are obvious. The Algerian version tends to be larger than the Spanish, and has a somewhat simplified sear which nonetheless does not make it more reliable since many existing specimens no longer function well.

Spanish authors of the period were not fond of this system, pointing to the weakness of the sear mechanism and the difficulty of maintenance and repair.

Mechanically-inclined readers can look at an exploded diagram of an agujeta sear linkage in Lavin, "History..." p 172, and compare it with the Algerian version in H Blackmore, "Guns and Rifles of the World"(1965), diagram p 115.

16th June 2017, 07:39 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	ALGERIAN KABYLE MUSKET for Comment A recent addition to my collection is this Algerian Miquelet Kabyle Smoothbore Musket. Bore is approx .50. Probable age mid 19th century. Profusely covered with nice inlaid very thin brass decoration and corals. Unfortunately some of the decoration has been lost over time, but the majority remains. Comments welcome. Stu Attached Images

17th June 2017, 12:48 AM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Another Algerian ... A toe Lock ...Perhaps someone can tell me the difference ? Placed to emphasis the decorative coral technique (similar to the one above) on Algerian weapons... Described as AN ALGERIAN SILVER-MOUNTED TOE-LOCK MUSKET, SECOND QUARTER OF THE 19TH CENTURY with engraved barrel retained by five silver bands repous,e with scrollwork, fitted with silver back-sight and with a further band of silver over the breech, iron lock inset with chased silver panels, cut with a brief numeric inscription beneath the cock (possibly including the date 1259 A.H. for circa 1843/44), retaining its embroidered silk hand-guard, figured hardwood three-quarter stock inlaid with a running pattern of silver foliage enriched with coral leaves over its full surface, three engraved silver flowerhead side-nail washers, engraved brass butt-plate inlaid with coral en suite, and wooden ramrod with large silver tip matching the barrel bands 92.4cm; 36Gin barrel. From http://www.thomasdelmar.com/Catalogu...1205/page2.htm Auctioned more than 10 years ago. On the subject of Coral Decoration please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19669 at # 25. Attached Images Last edited by Ibrahiim al Balooshi; 17th June 2017 at 12:59 AM.

17th June 2017, 06:45 AM	#6
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	"toe" locks The term "Algerian toe lock" is often applied by collectors to these mechanisms, but in actuality, this is something of a misnomer. For one thing, locks powered by an external mainspring that pushes DOWN on the "TOE" of the cock are not restricted to Algeria; the common "focile alla romana" of central Italy and the locks found on a number of 17th cent. French and Austrian breechloaders also share this characteristic. Spain is the birthplace of the external-mechanism flintlock systems common to much of North Africa, the Ottoman Empire, the Caucasus, and Iran. In most places, it is the "patilla" (little foot) or "a la española" type that is characteristic; the mainspring pushes UP on the HEEL of the cock and the sear (linkage between trigger and cock) system is more direct and robust. These are commonly known to collectors as "miquelets", which arises from a 19th cent. neologism. The Algerian lock, also of Spanish origin, is an interesting exception not only mechanically but developmentally. Its antecedent is a short-lived Spanish type called "agujeta" because the sear arrangement consisted of elongated pivoting bars with ends that went through holes in the lockplate and were thus likened to needles. (J D Lavin, "A History of Spanish Firearms" (1965) pp 170-172, also "Spanish Agujeta-lock Firearms" in ART, ARMS, AND ARMOUR (ed Robt Held, 1979). In Spain, the agujeta was in vogue only for the latter half of the 17th cent., disappearing by the early 18th, but enough of them must have made their way to al-Maghrib to become popular if not iconic in Algeria through the end of the 19th cent. Stylistic similarities, including elongated cock jaws, wing-shaped jaw screw finials, shape of priming pan bridle, outsized mainspring, and a dog catch safety hook are obvious. The Algerian version tends to be larger than the Spanish, and has a somewhat simplified sear which nonetheless does not make it more reliable since many existing specimens no longer function well. Spanish authors of the period were not fond of this system, pointing to the weakness of the sear mechanism and the difficulty of maintenance and repair. Mechanically-inclined readers can look at an exploded diagram of an agujeta sear linkage in Lavin, "History..." p 172, and compare it with the Algerian version in H Blackmore, "Guns and Rifles of the World"(1965), diagram p 115.

16th June 2017, 05:34 PM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Well well well it's a pure beauty. The most typical Algerian rifle, in very good condition. If you don't have the book Gold and Coral, you should buy it immediately. You will see plenty of them, exactly like yours... I think that the lock was decorated and some brass or silver is missing.

16th June 2017, 06:56 PM	#3
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	Stunning gun Stu, congratulations.

17th June 2017, 04:16 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	How wonderful! Zukran for posting this! (I just LOVE corals! )