Ottoman/Balkan Grease/Bullet Container

Kubur · 15th October 2015, 10:38 AM

Hi Stu,

It's Ottoman, but I don't know from where.
Some come from North Africa, some others from the Balkans and also from Turkey. So I prefer to say just: Ottoman... Very very late 19th and beginning of 20th c.

Best,
Kubur

kahnjar1 · 17th October 2015, 06:03 AM

...any further suggestions please and perhaps a translation?
Stu

rickystl · 18th October 2015, 06:12 PM

Hi Stu.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17586

I posted a similar one two years ago this month and received some great responses. You might want to read.
We know the larger containers with the hinged lids that were fabricated from brass, silver, etc. were used to carry pre-made combustable cartridges, often used with the large Horse pistols.
But these small ones are somewhat of a curiosity. And, as Kuber mentions, many of these small ones are probably not as old as we would like them to be.

But every one I've seen are made as a casting. Could be used to carry loose lead balls, grease or pre-greased patchs/patch material, flints, percussion caps, or ? I don't think anyone has been able to confirm their primary use. I wish I knew.

Thanks for posting. Here is mine that I posted two years ago.
Rick.

kahnjar1 · 18th October 2015, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Stu.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17586

I posted a similar one two years ago this month and received some great responses. You might want to read.
We know the larger containers with the hinged lids that were fabricated from brass, silver, etc. were used to carry pre-made combustable cartridges, often used with the large Horse pistols.
But these small ones are somewhat of a curiosity. And, as Kuber mentions, many of these small ones are probably not as old as we would like them to be.

But every one I've seen are made as a casting. Could be used to carry loose lead balls, grease or pre-greased patchs/patch material, flints, percussion caps, or ? I don't think anyone has been able to confirm their primary use. I wish I knew.

Thanks for posting. Here is mine that I posted two years ago.
Rick.

Hi Rick,
I do not expect that this is that old, but it cost way less than a meal at the local restaurant. I did hope to get some better idea of origin, and if possible a translation of the script. I note that the one you show does not have a hinged lid, so assume that the lid slides on the hanging cords (now missing) ??
As you suggest above, my one looks to be cast but until it arrives I can not be sure.
Stu

rickystl · 18th October 2015, 07:57 PM

Hi Stu.
Yes, the lid on mine just slides up and down on a cord/strap. I've seen both this style and the hinged style. I like your's better with the hinged lid and Arabic script - which I hope you can get translated. I agree with Kubur that these are probably Ottoman generally. Anyway, your's is a nice one.
Rick.

Kubur · 18th October 2015, 08:04 PM

Hi Rick,

I realise that I wasn't precise enough.
Here I post mine. I can see two "families" in these grease containers.
The first one with articulated suspensions supports and the later one with rigid supports. The later ones have always their original leather suspension.
It's the reason why they are probably from the end of the 19th c. and most probably from the beginning of the 20th c.
I will post some examples.

Kubur

Kubur · 18th October 2015, 08:12 PM

Few examples, same style, different shapes, grease containers.

Kubur · 18th October 2015, 08:22 PM

And now the primer flasks
Same style, same period for me early 20th c.
And yes, they are frequent on epray and very cheap.
On one flask I can read 1930 (Christian calendar), if you remember a recent post, I even said that they could be for early tourists, despite the fact that they look functional as Rick said previously...
And I'm very suspicious about the Arabic script on the late production, probably to attract more customers...
To conclude, we have two families the 19th c. one as the one depicted on the Greek painting in Rick's post and the later one, probably from Istanbul and tourist connected...
Kubur

rickystl · 18th October 2015, 08:59 PM

Hi Kubur.
I understand what you mean by the "two families". Thanks for the clarification.
It's somewhat hard to believe all the work in these little containers just to hold greese, and the like. But, "decoration" on all their weapons and accessories was commonplace.
My little container looks so plain compared to the others posted here.

Rick.

18th October 2015, 06:12 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Stu. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17586 I posted a similar one two years ago this month and received some great responses. You might want to read. We know the larger containers with the hinged lids that were fabricated from brass, silver, etc. were used to carry pre-made combustable cartridges, often used with the large Horse pistols. But these small ones are somewhat of a curiosity. And, as Kuber mentions, many of these small ones are probably not as old as we would like them to be. But every one I've seen are made as a casting. Could be used to carry loose lead balls, grease or pre-greased patchs/patch material, flints, percussion caps, or ? I don't think anyone has been able to confirm their primary use. I wish I knew. Thanks for posting. Here is mine that I posted two years ago. Rick. Attached Images

18th October 2015, 08:04 PM	#6
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Rick, I realise that I wasn't precise enough. Here I post mine. I can see two "families" in these grease containers. The first one with articulated suspensions supports and the later one with rigid supports. The later ones have always their original leather suspension. It's the reason why they are probably from the end of the 19th c. and most probably from the beginning of the 20th c. I will post some examples. Kubur Attached Images

18th October 2015, 08:12 PM	#7
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Few examples, same style, different shapes, grease containers. Attached Images

18th October 2015, 08:22 PM	#8
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	And now the primer flasks Same style, same period for me early 20th c. And yes, they are frequent on epray and very cheap. On one flask I can read 1930 (Christian calendar), if you remember a recent post, I even said that they could be for early tourists, despite the fact that they look functional as Rick said previously... And I'm very suspicious about the Arabic script on the late production, probably to attract more customers... To conclude, we have two families the 19th c. one as the one depicted on the Greek painting in Rick's post and the later one, probably from Istanbul and tourist connected... Kubur Attached Images

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15th October 2015, 10:38 AM	#1
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Stu, It's Ottoman, but I don't know from where. Some come from North Africa, some others from the Balkans and also from Turkey. So I prefer to say just: Ottoman... Very very late 19th and beginning of 20th c. Best, Kubur

17th October 2015, 06:03 AM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,811	...any further suggestions please and perhaps a translation? Stu

18th October 2015, 07:57 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Stu. Yes, the lid on mine just slides up and down on a cord/strap. I've seen both this style and the hinged style. I like your's better with the hinged lid and Arabic script - which I hope you can get translated. I agree with Kubur that these are probably Ottoman generally. Anyway, your's is a nice one. Rick.

18th October 2015, 08:59 PM	#9
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,633	Hi Kubur. I understand what you mean by the "two families". Thanks for the clarification. It's somewhat hard to believe all the work in these little containers just to hold greese, and the like. But, "decoration" on all their weapons and accessories was commonplace. My little container looks so plain compared to the others posted here. Rick.