information for ottoman-balkan pistols

[stelio]

Thank you very much Rick.
Really very interesting all this informations.
I have looked for some sign of the manufacturer or for some scripture but there is nothing of them.It is absolutely same in construction and decorative designs
It is a pair where the michanism and barel is identical both arms and there is no difference in design and decoration . I've seen enough of this type in collections and museums but never one pair like this with both very similar.
Stelios

[rickystl]

Hi Stelio.
Occassionally, you will find an untraceable stamp on the lock. But usually these pistols are unmarked for reasons above. Your's were obviously made as a pair.
And a very nice pair indeed.

Warriors of the Ottoman Empire preferred to load their pistols with a seperate suma rod, as shown above, suspended with a throng around the neck. So the so called "false" ramrod design on the bottom of the fore ends was simply a styling excercise.

Europeans would often carry a pair of horse pistols in a pair of holsters (called frogs) mounted on the horse saddles. Whereas, the Ottoman Region often preferred to carry their pistols in a single double frog holster suspended over the shoulder similar as shown below.
Rick.