Arab Style Musket

rickystl · 16th May 2021, 05:31 PM

MORE PICS.....

rickystl · 16th May 2021, 05:33 PM

LAST PICS, INCLUDING THE LOCK...

Victrix · 16th May 2021, 06:02 PM

Congrats on your new musket! I find it interesting with the added buttstock and brass studs which adds to its tribal character and uniqueness.

I always marvel at the curious Arab and Afghan rifle butts, and wonder why there seems to be a preference for convex butts where Europeans prefer concave butts. Makes you wonder if the rifles were used and handled differently there to account for the different shapes.

The lock and barrel metal seems curiously dull and porous as if exposed to some chemical reaction. Maybe it’s the extremely salty and humid air along the coast of the Arabian Gulf where temperatures reach +50C in Summer that caused it.

Kubur · 16th May 2021, 06:39 PM

Hi Rick,

Good catch as always.
I have a Yemeni matchlock with the same kind of butt, but yours seems more Indian, or Indo Arab as they say, what do you think?

You posted some similar guns in the past...

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24257

I have new guns that I have to post, including Indian pistol.

Best wishes,
Kubur

kahnjar1 · 17th May 2021, 04:42 AM

Hi Rick,
IMHO the butt on Kuburs Yemeni matchlock is quite different to yours. I think butt of yours looks to be a resahped european style whereas Kuburs has been purpose made in the shape it now is.
Stu

rickystl · 21st May 2021, 04:58 PM

Hi Victrix: Thanks for your reply. The heavy corrosion at the breech of the barrel and around the bolster and nipple area is from the percussion caps used during the period, which were very corrosive. This, combined with the Sulphur used in black powder, the general climate all contributed. Today's sporting percussion caps are non-corrosive.

Hi Kubur: I don't know the actual origin of this style of gun, or the others that look identical except for the decoration. I was always under the impression they were possibly from Yemen or Arabia (?). After this Post, I'll post pics of two more identical to mine.
Please do post any new guns you acquire.

Hi Stu: The butt cap on mine is a separate piece attached with two wood pins.
See my next post.

Rick

rickystl · 21st May 2021, 05:17 PM

Here are pics of two more of these muskets from another Forum member a few years ago. He won them at an auction and was going to sell one of them to me. But we couldn't find a way the ship it out of the Netherlands.

These two are silver mounted. But the styling of the stock, barrels, locks, and butt caps are close to identical. I've seen others similar in the past. So this particular style was popular somewhere for a time. I'll see what else I can find in my library. It would be interesting to know the origin.

Rick

16th May 2021, 05:31 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	MORE PICS..... Attached Images

16th May 2021, 05:33 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	LAST PICS, INCLUDING THE LOCK... Attached Images

21st May 2021, 05:17 PM	#7
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	Here are pics of two more of these muskets from another Forum member a few years ago. He won them at an auction and was going to sell one of them to me. But we couldn't find a way the ship it out of the Netherlands. These two are silver mounted. But the styling of the stock, barrels, locks, and butt caps are close to identical. I've seen others similar in the past. So this particular style was popular somewhere for a time. I'll see what else I can find in my library. It would be interesting to know the origin. Rick Attached Images

16th May 2021, 06:02 PM	#3
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 755	Congrats on your new musket! I find it interesting with the added buttstock and brass studs which adds to its tribal character and uniqueness. I always marvel at the curious Arab and Afghan rifle butts, and wonder why there seems to be a preference for convex butts where Europeans prefer concave butts. Makes you wonder if the rifles were used and handled differently there to account for the different shapes. The lock and barrel metal seems curiously dull and porous as if exposed to some chemical reaction. Maybe it’s the extremely salty and humid air along the coast of the Arabian Gulf where temperatures reach +50C in Summer that caused it.

16th May 2021, 06:39 PM	#4
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Hi Rick, Good catch as always. I have a Yemeni matchlock with the same kind of butt, but yours seems more Indian, or Indo Arab as they say, what do you think? You posted some similar guns in the past... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24257 I have new guns that I have to post, including Indian pistol. Best wishes, Kubur

17th May 2021, 04:42 AM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	Hi Rick, IMHO the butt on Kuburs Yemeni matchlock is quite different to yours. I think butt of yours looks to be a resahped european style whereas Kuburs has been purpose made in the shape it now is. Stu

21st May 2021, 04:58 PM	#6
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	Hi Victrix: Thanks for your reply. The heavy corrosion at the breech of the barrel and around the bolster and nipple area is from the percussion caps used during the period, which were very corrosive. This, combined with the Sulphur used in black powder, the general climate all contributed. Today's sporting percussion caps are non-corrosive. Hi Kubur: I don't know the actual origin of this style of gun, or the others that look identical except for the decoration. I was always under the impression they were possibly from Yemen or Arabia (?). After this Post, I'll post pics of two more identical to mine. Please do post any new guns you acquire. Hi Stu: The butt cap on mine is a separate piece attached with two wood pins. See my next post. Rick