MASSIVE**19th Century North African / Moroccan/ Arabic 25 Bore Miquelet Lock Camel Musket With Decorated Brass Barrel Bands & Ram Rod. Sn 21450 Muzzleloader None Rifles

**MASSIVE**19th Century North African / Moroccan/ Arabic 25 Bore Miquelet Lock Camel Musket With Decorated Brass Barrel Bands & Ram Rod. Sn 21450 - 21450

Miquelet lock is a modern term used by collectors and curators, largely in the English-speaking world, for a type of firing mechanism used in muskets and pistols. It is a distinctive form of snaplock, originally as a flint-against-steel ignition form, once prevalent in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, the Ottoman Empire and throughout Spain's colonies from the late 16th to the mid 19th centuries. The miquelet may have come to the attention of arms makers in Istanbul & North Africa via long-established trade routes from Italian city-states through the port of Ragusa (Dubrovnik) to provinces on the Balkan Peninsula. Other avenues were probably provided by booty from corsair raids and/or from the many Ottoman-Euro conflicts of the period. The muzzle loading weapons were generally handmade weapons, and consequently they widely varied in their construction. They usually had very long barrels. The stocks were handmade and ornately decorated, featuring a distinctive curve which is not seen in the stocks of other muskets. The function of this curve is debated; it may be purely decorative, or it may have allowed the weapon to be tucked under the arm and cradled tightly against the body, as opposed to being held to the shoulder like a typical musket or rifle. These type of guns were often carried by warriors mounted on Camels. This is a 19th century miquelet lock Camel musket. It measures 5 Feet 1 Inch overall length. It has a 47” sighted steel barrel which is 25 Bore. The bore has heavy staining and residue consistent with age & use. The barrel has hand tooled brass barrel bands. The shoulder stock has typical thick tropical hardwood butt plate. The musket has a steel ram rod. The weapon has the wear and patina to be expected of a native North African / Arabic weapon of its age. The lock plate and cock have naïve markings (illustrated in image 2). The cocking spring is strong but the lock does not cock. Delivery of this item will be by arrangement, at cost & within the UK only. NB As an antique miquelet musket no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 21450

£475.00