Caucasian Miquelet Rifle

TVV · 3rd March 2012, 06:07 PM

Very nice rifle, the barrel looks like it has a pattern - have you tried etching?
Regards,
Teodor

Norman McCormick · 4th March 2012, 01:16 PM

Hi Fernando,
Thanks for the gentle bump.

My Regards,
Norman.

Hi Teodor,
Thank you for the kind words. I'm very happy with this latest acquisition and surprised that I'm not able to find any other examples in the Forum archives. The net is rather reticent on the subject and as the Caucasus is rather a large area I was hoping there were regional variations that would allow me to tie down the origins more concisely. Zifir was kind enough to take a look at the barrel stamp but was only able to translate 'made by' but not the name as it appears to be written in a Caucasian language/dialect unfamiliar to him, are you able to help re the name? I think the barrel has a pattern but my wife and I are in an apartment now and playing with 'chemistry' is difficult.

My Regards,
Norman.

TVV · 4th March 2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Teodor,
Thank you for the kind words. I'm very happy with this latest acquisition and surprised that I'm not able to find any other examples in the Forum archives. The net is rather reticent on the subject and as the Caucasus is rather a large area I was hoping there were regional variations that would allow me to tie down the origins more concisely. Zifir was kind enough to take a look at the barrel stamp but was only able to translate 'made by' but not the name as it appears to be written in a Caucasian language/dialect unfamiliar to him, are you able to help re the name? I think the barrel has a pattern but my wife and I are in an apartment now and playing with 'chemistry' is difficult.

My Regards,
Norman.

Norman,
You are correct that there are limited references on the subject. The best is probably Astvatsaturian's "Arms of the People of the Caucasus", in Russian only. There she characterizies the lock on your rifle as "Kubachi type", and the author gives several illustrations of similar stamps on barrels. The form of the stock on your rifle is also typically Caucasian, but the decoration is puzzling. The typical Caucasian guns have lavish bands of silver with niello and the buttplates of ivory. The decoration on yours with this type of bone inserts actually looks to have a strong Balkan influence.
After the wars with Russia, many Circassians were forced to flee to various parts of the Ottoman Empire, and a large number of them re-settled in the Balkans. It is possible that this gun may have travelled to the Balkans with its owner, where it needed a replacement stock and a local craftsman was able to duplicate the shape, but decorated it in the local manner.
Regards,
Teodor

fernando · 4th March 2012, 07:33 PM

You've got ermail Norman.

Norman McCormick · 4th March 2012, 07:51 PM

Hi Teodor,
Thanks for the additional interesting information, I did wonder about the decoration as the rifles I was able to find on the net were fitted out in a more lavish and extravagant fashion. I did think mine was a more workmanlike piece, which for me was not a negative, but the scenario re the Balkans would seem to be a plausible reason for this rifle to be plainer than normal. Thanks again.
Best Regards,
Norman.

Hi Fernando,
Message received, thanks.
Best Regards,
Norman.

rickystl · 3rd April 2012, 06:07 PM

Hi Norman. I've been away from the Forum for a couple months. Just now catching up on all the great gun Posts. That is a very interesting gun you have. My observations/opinions: 1) The stock is done in the Caucassan style, especially the butt area. 2) The barrel looks more Ottoman/Turkish in style. Especially the design of the rear sight and the barrel tang area. As well, the "bottom groove" rifling was most common (but not always) with Turk made barrels. Of course the barrel marking/translation may prove me wrong. Which just adds more interest to the gun. 3) The lock as mention above, looks more Balkan - even Persian - in style. 4) The bone inlays also look Turkish in style. Attached is a pic of a Ottoman Tufak Rifle I own. Note the similarity of the wrist inlays with yours.
I think Teodor offers a good plausible explanation. Maybe my comments will just add to the mystery?

Taken as a whole, this is a really neat gun. I wish I owned it. It's so very interesting. Congratulations. Let us know if you receive any translations, etc. Rick.

Norman McCormick · 5th April 2012, 07:09 PM

Hi Rick,
Many thanks for your appreciation and insights, I have had Zifir, our tireless resident Turkish translator, look at the barrel stamp but unfortunately it is not old Turkish and he is not able to give a translation so I'm afraid for the moment I'm in the dark. There doesn't seem to be many of these rifles about and I think I was quite lucky to snag this one. Thanks again.
My Regards,
Norman.

4th March 2012, 07:51 PM	#5
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,637	Hi Teodor, Thanks for the additional interesting information, I did wonder about the decoration as the rifles I was able to find on the net were fitted out in a more lavish and extravagant fashion. I did think mine was a more workmanlike piece, which for me was not a negative, but the scenario re the Balkans would seem to be a plausible reason for this rifle to be plainer than normal. Thanks again. Best Regards, Norman. Hi Fernando, Message received, thanks. Best Regards, Norman. Last edited by Norman McCormick; 4th March 2012 at 10:50 PM.

3rd April 2012, 06:07 PM	#6
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Norman. I've been away from the Forum for a couple months. Just now catching up on all the great gun Posts. That is a very interesting gun you have. My observations/opinions: 1) The stock is done in the Caucassan style, especially the butt area. 2) The barrel looks more Ottoman/Turkish in style. Especially the design of the rear sight and the barrel tang area. As well, the "bottom groove" rifling was most common (but not always) with Turk made barrels. Of course the barrel marking/translation may prove me wrong. Which just adds more interest to the gun. 3) The lock as mention above, looks more Balkan - even Persian - in style. 4) The bone inlays also look Turkish in style. Attached is a pic of a Ottoman Tufak Rifle I own. Note the similarity of the wrist inlays with yours. I think Teodor offers a good plausible explanation. Maybe my comments will just add to the mystery? Taken as a whole, this is a really neat gun. I wish I owned it. It's so very interesting. Congratulations. Let us know if you receive any translations, etc. Rick. Attached Images

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

3rd March 2012, 06:07 PM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,669	Very nice rifle, the barrel looks like it has a pattern - have you tried etching? Regards, Teodor

4th March 2012, 01:16 PM	#2
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,637	Hi Fernando, Thanks for the gentle bump. My Regards, Norman. Hi Teodor, Thank you for the kind words. I'm very happy with this latest acquisition and surprised that I'm not able to find any other examples in the Forum archives. The net is rather reticent on the subject and as the Caucasus is rather a large area I was hoping there were regional variations that would allow me to tie down the origins more concisely. Zifir was kind enough to take a look at the barrel stamp but was only able to translate 'made by' but not the name as it appears to be written in a Caucasian language/dialect unfamiliar to him, are you able to help re the name? I think the barrel has a pattern but my wife and I are in an apartment now and playing with 'chemistry' is difficult. My Regards, Norman.

4th March 2012, 07:33 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	You've got ermail Norman.

5th April 2012, 07:09 PM	#7
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,637	Hi Rick, Many thanks for your appreciation and insights, I have had Zifir, our tireless resident Turkish translator, look at the barrel stamp but unfortunately it is not old Turkish and he is not able to give a translation so I'm afraid for the moment I'm in the dark. There doesn't seem to be many of these rifles about and I think I was quite lucky to snag this one. Thanks again. My Regards, Norman.