Caucasian Miquelet Rifle

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.

Dom · 5th April 2012, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

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.

Hi Norman
the complete translation is difficult, I mean for my translator
because, as far as, the first word translated is "made by" (AMAL)
it's a name should come after ... a name; Georgian ? Turkish ?
only the first letter "A" it's readable by my translator,
not enough to imagine the complete name

à +

Dom

3rd April 2012, 06:07 PM	#1
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

5th April 2012, 07:09 PM	#2
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.