Hello. Nice looking pistol. I've always favored the all-iron mounted pistols over the all-brass or brass/iron combinations. I just find them attractive, especially with dark stained stocks such as this example. It does indeed appear that the barrel has been shortened. Probably sometime in the past possible due to muzzle damage.
These pistols are commonly known by collectors as Ottoman/Balkan Kubur (horse) pistols. And your's is very typical of the style. They are usually unmarked, with the decoration, engraving, etc. done in a generic fashion so as to appeal to a wide range of prospects. There peak of popularity was during the first half of the 19th Century. Judging by the quantity of examples still available today, these pistols must have been made by the thousands during the period. Probably made at one of the many gun making centers in the Balkans. But there were also many made as complete guns and decorated for the local market and exported from Europe.
Your pistol could have been in use almost anywhere in the Ottoman Empire. Again, nice piece with the all-iron mounts.
Rick
|