Original Caucusus Region Black Sea Miquelet Long Rifle with Gold Maker Marked Lock & Marine Ivory Butt Cap – Circa 1800 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a charming Eastern European or West Asian Long Rifle from the Cuacusus Region / Black Sea area. It is fitted with a MIQUELET lock, a predecessor / alternative to the standard flint lock design in use throughout most of Europe. These were popular in the Middle East and Western Asia regions, long after they had been abandoned elsewhere. The lock on this shows a gold makers touchmark on the side, which looks to be in Arabic script.

Measuring about 50 inches overall, the barrel is 38 1/2 inches long, with a “cannon” flared muzzle. Most interestingly, it is RIFLED with 8 grooves and a gentle twist. This is definitely not what we were expecting, as almost all that we have seen have always been smooth bore. The rifle is quite low profile overall, which keeps the weight down. It is fitted with the characteristic Caucasian area “ball trigger”, and looks to have had 3 barrel bands at one point, only one of which remains. We checked the lock, and it actually is fully functional, though we do recommend using it with care, as they are not nearly as durable as the later flintlock designs.

The stock is lovely, showing lovely “tiger” flame figuring from muzzle to butt. It looks like there was at one point some type of nose cap, but that is now missing. it also has a slot with a piece of leather in it, though we cannot tell if this is for some type of sling, or to attach the barrel to the stock. The butt of the gun bears a substantial 1 1/8 inch thick MARINE IVORY butt cap, which has a lovely matured yellow color.

A rare and very interesting gun, especially with the rifled barrel! Ready to research and display!

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1800
Bore Diameter: .59″
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 38 inches
Overall Length: 50 inches
Action: Flintlock Miquelet
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

History of the Miquelet Lock:
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, Ottoman Empire and throughout Spain’s colonies from the late 16th to the mid 19th centuries. Later they were seen in percussion form, either as originally produced, or converted.

The term miquelet lock was not recorded until the 19th century, long after the appearance of the mechanism in the 16th century, and is of uncertain origin. One commonly held view is that it was coined by British troops in the Peninsular War to describe the style of musket used by the Miquelet (militia) that had been assigned to the Peninsular Army of the Duke of Wellington.

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