Moukhalla

RDGAC · 24th March 2016, 04:03 AM

Well, perhaps like an idiot, I went and finally acquired one of these oddities in September last. Been meaning to post it on the forum since then but, well, you know how it goes...

Overall length 63in, barrel length 48in almost exactly; the bore's somewhere around .65 (or roughly 20-bore), but is actually ovoid at the muzzle(!) so it's a bit tricky to say for sure.

Snaphance lock semi-functional; when purchased, the corrosion had essentially jammed it solid, but oil and wire wool has removed enough of that to get the lock moving again. The sear nose has deformed sufficiently to prevent engagement with the cock, and doesn't actually match up with the tail of the cock (more on that anon), and the pushrod for the pan lid is sufficiently loose to wobble a fair bit when the lock works. One of the lock screws is ridiculously overlong but otherwise OK. Whole thing sits very loosely in the stock; could be a replacement?

Barrel's as crude as anything I've ever seen, being not particularly straight externally and, as mentioned, ovoid in section at the muzzle (ramrod wear?). Very long, narrow bored and surprisingly light. Smoothbored, octagonal over first 5 inches (or so) from breech, transitioning to round external section thereafter, with notch rear sight and brass bead foresight that's worn down to a stub but just about visible.

Stock and fittings are the real meat of this thing. Never seen as much bone or silver in such a short area. Most of the decorations are still in place; the biggest absence is a piece of bone which should be sited almost exactly on the centreline of the stock, roughly where the user's thumb would rest while shooting - probably explains its absence. Camel-bone inlay sections forming hindmost part of buttstock are extensively cracked (desiccation or heat expansion/contraction?) and yellower than a hundred-a-day smoker's two remaining teeth, but at least remain in position. Small areas of orange coral present on stock wrist. Extensive silver plating, covering underside of stock adjacent to lock, and used to produce sideplate to hold lock screws. Twenty-eight (count 'em!) barrel bands, of which one brass; first band appears to be heavily patinated silver strip of approx. 3in length, nailed to stock through leading corner. Iron ramrod with simply carved tip, unfortunately jammed in there like a limpet and resisting all efforts at removal. In fact, the entire gun's stuck together extremely tightly; I suspect someone has, in its long life, kept it clean with heavy use of furniture polish.

Pics! Apologies for their being small and rather poor; my good phone camera is dead and buried, sadly, and this is all I have to hand.

blue lander · 24th March 2016, 01:45 PM

My moukala has a similar seer problem to yours. It's worn down and bent and doesn't seem to fit the cock.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21120

RDGAC · 26th March 2016, 01:58 PM

It's a weird design. I'll try and get a decent picture, but a quick description my be useful too.

From what I can tell, the North African snaphaunces are copies of originals traded with Morocco (indeed, sometimes with the specific aim of buying the Sultan's favour) during the 16th and 17th centuries by the English and Dutch. They copy these designs in most details, right down to the button-shaped "fence" or guard on the outside of the pan. So far, so good, except that the mechanisms aren't alike. On the European prototypes, the sear, pivoting horizontally and with its nose passing through the lockplate, engages the tail of the cock to hold it at the cocked position; indeed, that is the express function of the tail. On the North African derivatives, however - or at least, on mine, yours, and any others I've seen in photos or museums - the sear does not engage the tail. In my lock, it engages with a large slot, either cut into the cock after casting or, more likely, included in the original casting. The entire system reminds me slightly of wheel-lock mechanisms, with the sear pressing against a rounded detent to allow it to release easily when the trigger is pressed. On these snaphaunces, the net result is that the sear nose and the cast slot wear down to the point where they're both nicely rounded, at which point the whole mechanism ceases to function. When fettling this musket, I plan to see if I can rebuild the nose slightly so that the sear can actually hold the cock back.

rickystl · 26th March 2016, 07:04 PM

Hi RDGAC.
Congrats on your new purchase. And thanks for the photos and descriptions. I enjoyed reading your text. Maybe I can add to the conversation here.
Your gun indeed appears to be a Moroccan Altit long gun from the Little Atlas Mountains Region. Could be anywhere from the 1st to 3rd Quarter of the 19th Century. (where as Blue Lander's gun appears to be an Afedali from the Sous Valley Region with a replacement lock from another gun).
The lock on your gun was made on the English pattern, which seem the most common on Altit guns. The lock on Blue Lander's gun is the Dutch pattern, and is common on Afedali guns, but I've seen both patterns used on Afedali styles.
About these Snaphaunce locks: Having spent a few years working and having these locks repaired, the weak part is the sear to hammer slot engagement. The sears and tumblers on all these locks I've examined were simply not hardened. The sear would wear down short. The locks must have been in a constant state of maintenence and repair. The only way to repair this in most cases is to add metal to the end of the sear and file to fit, then flame harden the finished sear. Or make a new sear. While I'm at it, I'll have the tumbler hardened also. This makes the lock work much better.

Yes, the English style lock on your's does look like it may have been a latter replacement. The lock plate screws on these guns often extend out past the lockplate, but the screws on your's does seem to the extreme. By the way, are there only two lock plate screws on your gun? Can't quite tell from the photos. There should be three.

I'll post some photos of these locks below.

Rick.

rickystl · 26th March 2016, 07:08 PM

Here is an original Moroccan snaphaunce lock done in the English pattern. It is in un-used condition with a replaced top screw I had made that was missing.
Rick

rickystl · 26th March 2016, 07:10 PM

Here is an Original Moroccan snaphaunce lock done in the Dutch pattern. It has been used but is complete and working.
Rick.

24th March 2016, 04:03 AM	#1
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	Moukhalla Well, perhaps like an idiot, I went and finally acquired one of these oddities in September last. Been meaning to post it on the forum since then but, well, you know how it goes... Overall length 63in, barrel length 48in almost exactly; the bore's somewhere around .65 (or roughly 20-bore), but is actually ovoid at the muzzle(!) so it's a bit tricky to say for sure. Snaphance lock semi-functional; when purchased, the corrosion had essentially jammed it solid, but oil and wire wool has removed enough of that to get the lock moving again. The sear nose has deformed sufficiently to prevent engagement with the cock, and doesn't actually match up with the tail of the cock (more on that anon), and the pushrod for the pan lid is sufficiently loose to wobble a fair bit when the lock works. One of the lock screws is ridiculously overlong but otherwise OK. Whole thing sits very loosely in the stock; could be a replacement? Barrel's as crude as anything I've ever seen, being not particularly straight externally and, as mentioned, ovoid in section at the muzzle (ramrod wear?). Very long, narrow bored and surprisingly light. Smoothbored, octagonal over first 5 inches (or so) from breech, transitioning to round external section thereafter, with notch rear sight and brass bead foresight that's worn down to a stub but just about visible. Stock and fittings are the real meat of this thing. Never seen as much bone or silver in such a short area. Most of the decorations are still in place; the biggest absence is a piece of bone which should be sited almost exactly on the centreline of the stock, roughly where the user's thumb would rest while shooting - probably explains its absence. Camel-bone inlay sections forming hindmost part of buttstock are extensively cracked (desiccation or heat expansion/contraction?) and yellower than a hundred-a-day smoker's two remaining teeth, but at least remain in position. Small areas of orange coral present on stock wrist. Extensive silver plating, covering underside of stock adjacent to lock, and used to produce sideplate to hold lock screws. Twenty-eight (count 'em!) barrel bands, of which one brass; first band appears to be heavily patinated silver strip of approx. 3in length, nailed to stock through leading corner. Iron ramrod with simply carved tip, unfortunately jammed in there like a limpet and resisting all efforts at removal. In fact, the entire gun's stuck together extremely tightly; I suspect someone has, in its long life, kept it clean with heavy use of furniture polish. Pics! Apologies for their being small and rather poor; my good phone camera is dead and buried, sadly, and this is all I have to hand. Attached Images

26th March 2016, 07:08 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	Here is an original Moroccan snaphaunce lock done in the English pattern. It is in un-used condition with a replaced top screw I had made that was missing. Rick Attached Images

26th March 2016, 07:10 PM	#6
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	Here is an Original Moroccan snaphaunce lock done in the Dutch pattern. It has been used but is complete and working. Rick. Attached Images

24th March 2016, 01:45 PM	#2
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	My moukala has a similar seer problem to yours. It's worn down and bent and doesn't seem to fit the cock. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21120

26th March 2016, 01:58 PM	#3
RDGAC Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York, UK Posts: 167	It's a weird design. I'll try and get a decent picture, but a quick description my be useful too. From what I can tell, the North African snaphaunces are copies of originals traded with Morocco (indeed, sometimes with the specific aim of buying the Sultan's favour) during the 16th and 17th centuries by the English and Dutch. They copy these designs in most details, right down to the button-shaped "fence" or guard on the outside of the pan. So far, so good, except that the mechanisms aren't alike. On the European prototypes, the sear, pivoting horizontally and with its nose passing through the lockplate, engages the tail of the cock to hold it at the cocked position; indeed, that is the express function of the tail. On the North African derivatives, however - or at least, on mine, yours, and any others I've seen in photos or museums - the sear does not engage the tail. In my lock, it engages with a large slot, either cut into the cock after casting or, more likely, included in the original casting. The entire system reminds me slightly of wheel-lock mechanisms, with the sear pressing against a rounded detent to allow it to release easily when the trigger is pressed. On these snaphaunces, the net result is that the sear nose and the cast slot wear down to the point where they're both nicely rounded, at which point the whole mechanism ceases to function. When fettling this musket, I plan to see if I can rebuild the nose slightly so that the sear can actually hold the cock back.

26th March 2016, 07:04 PM	#4
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	Hi RDGAC. Congrats on your new purchase. And thanks for the photos and descriptions. I enjoyed reading your text. Maybe I can add to the conversation here. Your gun indeed appears to be a Moroccan Altit long gun from the Little Atlas Mountains Region. Could be anywhere from the 1st to 3rd Quarter of the 19th Century. (where as Blue Lander's gun appears to be an Afedali from the Sous Valley Region with a replacement lock from another gun). The lock on your gun was made on the English pattern, which seem the most common on Altit guns. The lock on Blue Lander's gun is the Dutch pattern, and is common on Afedali guns, but I've seen both patterns used on Afedali styles. About these Snaphaunce locks: Having spent a few years working and having these locks repaired, the weak part is the sear to hammer slot engagement. The sears and tumblers on all these locks I've examined were simply not hardened. The sear would wear down short. The locks must have been in a constant state of maintenence and repair. The only way to repair this in most cases is to add metal to the end of the sear and file to fit, then flame harden the finished sear. Or make a new sear. While I'm at it, I'll have the tumbler hardened also. This makes the lock work much better. Yes, the English style lock on your's does look like it may have been a latter replacement. The lock plate screws on these guns often extend out past the lockplate, but the screws on your's does seem to the extreme. By the way, are there only two lock plate screws on your gun? Can't quite tell from the photos. There should be three. I'll post some photos of these locks below. Rick.