Moroccan barrel inscription advice please

[Mel H]

Hoping someone can help here, I've attached some photographs of the barrel inscription on a Moroccan long gun with Snaphaunce lock. It's interesting because the barrel is quite long at 64 inches. The double photo is showing the view from both sides.

[Kubur]

Sorry but you have to post the whole gun... I would like to see the muzzle.
thanks

[Mel H]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Sorry but you have to post the whole gun... I would like to see the muzzle.
thanks

Hi there, I appreciate that it would help to see it all and I would normally show it, but at the moment it's being prepared for some restoration, the lock is stripped and soaking and I'm wondering whether to separate the barrel and stock. I will take a photo of the fore end tomorrow.
Mel.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Mel H

Hi there, I appreciate that it would help to see it all and I would normally show it, but at the moment it's being prepared for some restoration, the lock is stripped and soaking and I'm wondering whether to separate the barrel and stock. I will take a photo of the fore end tomorrow.
Mel.

Hi Mel,
You ask about taking the barrel down........If it is attached to the stock with bands ONLY, then it should be quite easy, BUT if, as on some North African guns, the stock is totaly (or partly) wrapped in decorated brass, then it might be a good idea to leave it as it is.
Look forward to pics of the complete gun........
Stu

[Kubur]

I can read "anno dei"
the year of ...
then a number x32x ???
so it should be an Italian barrel or an African copy

[Mel H]

Thank you, I was thinking that the script had something of a European look, I've added another picture. The barrel flares slightly toward the muzzle it is round with a flat portion on the top running the full length.
Due to tightness of the brass bands and the fragility of the wood I've decided That I will carry out some sympathetic restoration without the need to separate it.
Mel.

[Battara]

I was thinking that the inscription looks French to me.

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Mel H

Thank you, I was thinking that the script had something of a European look, I've added another picture. The barrel flares slightly toward the muzzle it is round with a flat portion on the top running the full length.
Due to tightness of the brass bands and the fragility of the wood I've decided That I will carry out some sympathetic restoration without the need to separate it.
Mel.

Hi Mel,
Nice looking gun and in good condition too! What you have is called a Mukahla and is from the Tetuan North Coastal region of Morocco.
IF you do want to remove the barrel, you may find it is not as hard as you think. Possibly you can get the bands on the move (gently tap towards the muzzle using a wooden wedge). Make sure you mark each band as to where it came from and the DIRECTION it came off the barrel. It is quite possible that one of the bands is hiding a join in the wood, which is quite common with these long barrels. Anyway you would be a better judge as to the necessity of removing the bands. Certainly a light rub over with very fine steel wool would bring up the brass bands and the barrel, without removing the patina.
Also what are those white spots along the top of the barrel?
Awaiting the final result.
Stu

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Also what are those white spots along the top of the barrel?

Hi Stu
I'm not the photographer but i can answer this one:
they are spotlights thought the fence...

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Stu
I'm not the photographer but i can answer this one:
they are spotlights thought the fence...

????????????????

[Mel H]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

????????????????

Yes, the sun was shining brightly on the other side of the fence when the photograph was taken

[Mel H]

As most collectors would agree, these things tend to come into our possession with little in the way of provenance. It may interest some here to know that the above Mukahla was till recently, along with several others, owned by the family of a well documented 19th C. woman missionary, who in 1888 opened, along with two other brave women, a medical Station in Fez. Her name was Emma Herdman, she died in Morocco in 1899.

I have another from the same source, it has silver mounts. I've spent some time working on it and have included a couple of photo's, some here may recognise the lock from a photo that I included in a previous post a couple of months since.

[Mel H]

Thanks for the replies, I think it's safe to say that the answer to my original question is that the inscription is a Moroccan attempt to make it look European.

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Mel H

Thanks for the replies, I think it's safe to say that the answer to my original question is that the inscription is a Moroccan attempt to make it look European.

Hi
Did you clean gently the stamps, is it gold or brass inside?
I think that you have a very good barrel.

[Mel H]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi
Did you clean gently the stamps, is it gold or brass inside?
I think that you have a very good barrel.

I assume that the query is about the second gun that I've included in the thread, I have been careful not to over clean the markings on this one. I hope to have a good look at them soon.
Mel.

UPDATE

I've cleaned out the recesses with a stiff toothbrush and am sorry to report that any precious metal that may have been inserted by the original smith has gone a long time since. I've included a picture of the muzzle, I don't know if it shows in the picture but the barrel has a definite twist forging pattern .
The length of the barrel is 47 inches (120 cm).

Mel