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| Antique Firearms |
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Fine European Flintlock Pistol; approximately .60-caliber |
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| This is an excellent European flintlock pistol in untouched condition. The pistol has a 12 3/8-inch barrel that is highly carved with a decorated sighting guide running most of its length. The barrel appears to have the initials "L.E." engraved in the sighting guide. A search of the literature lists only two gun makers with those initials: Leopold Eckhard of Prague and Ludwig Eich of Oberstedten. The lock is finely made with accomplished engraving on both the lock plate and the hammer. The lock is signed, but the maker's name is lost to history. The European walnut stock is skillfully carved and shows some age cracking, but no loss. The brass trigger guard is engraved, the butt cap is of embossed brass, and the brass back plate is pierced and engraved. This is an excellent example of a high quality 18th century European pistol.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Fine Turkish-Empire Miquelet Pistol; .62 caliber |
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| This is a highly decorated, brass-wrapped miquelet rattail pistol that was probably made in the Balkans—most likely Albania—around 1800. The ignition system, known as the miquelet lock, was developed in Spain around 1575 and was used into the early 19th century. It was developed about 50 years earlier than the French-type flintlock that became prevalent in Western Europe and the Americas. The miquelet lock was widely used in the Mediterranean region having been introduced by Italian traders who traveled through the Balkans and the Turkish peninsula. It was used as far north as Russia; and from Spain to the full extent of the Ottoman Empire. Albania was a major arms producer, having a history of weapons manufacture going back to the 1400s. As the Italian traders introduced more modern European designs, the Albanians were quick to incorporate these improvements into their own weapons. As a part of the Ottoman Empire since the 1500s, most of the Balkan states were more closely tied to Constantinople than to Europe, and most of its arms production was distributed throughout the empire. This high-quality miquelet rattail pistol shows the style of Albanian gun making prevalent in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The rattail style of stock was used throughout the Balkans and the covering of the stock with brass is also common in this area. The brass protected the stock from being damaged, and could be decorated with a number of techniques to make an outstanding weapon. This pistol has an 11 1/2-inch barrel that has two wedding-ring turnings, and inlaid silver decoration. It also has what appear to be two gold decorative inlays at the breech end. The stock is fully covered in brass that is almost entirely covered in respoussé floral designs. As is typical with Albanian pistols, a fake ramrod is incorporated into the design. The iron trigger guard is also engraved and has a brass appliqué on the bow. The miquelet lock is engraved and has a small lock-maker’s cartouche on the lock plate. This pistol is a high-quality example of the type of weapon used in the Ottoman Empire at a time when the United States was in its infancy.
PRICE: $1,200.00 |
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 Contact us for any additional information. |
