North African / Moroccan/ Arabic 28 Bore Miquelet Lock Musket With Wood Stock In Miquelet Lock Musket With Wood Stock Inlaid With Intricate Silver Wire & Brass D Muzzleloader Rifles

ORNATE, 19th Century North African / Moroccan/ Arabic 28 Bore Miquelet Lock Musket With Wood Stock Inlaid With Intricate Silver Wire & Brass Decoration, Decorated Bone Butt Plate & Ram Rod. Sn 14670 - 14670

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 were seen as very personal weapons, and unlike the typical military weapons of the time which were very plain and utilitarian, the weapons tended to be well crafted and were usually intricately decorated. 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. This is a 19th century miquelet lock musket. It measures a 53” overall length. It has a round steel barrel which is 14mm diameter at the muzzle opening (approx. 28 Bore). The bore has the staining and residue consistent with age. The barrel has ornately tooled brass barrel bands. The metalwork including the barrel has hand tooled and gilt decoration. It has a wood stock with ornate silver wire decoration decoration & and typical curved butt. The butt has a thick bone butt plate pierced and coloured with a foliate design. iThe 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. As is common with these weapons the action does not cock and dry fire. The price includes UK delivery. 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 14670

£675.00