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Post by westland on Jul 17, 2023 13:28:13 GMT
Hy! Recently found this matchlock one. I would like to ask what is this, from which era, is this original and how does it worths? Thanks in advance.
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tera
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Post by tera on Jul 17, 2023 17:15:38 GMT
Full disclosure, my specialty in the industry was unique modern militaria and I get fuzzy around WWII. We used to have great reference books for makers marks and proof marks at work but having left that job I no longer have access to them. So, take what I say with a grain of salt.
It doesn't look exactly like anything I've seen before, but most resembles a North Africa flintlock rifle (based on the Lock, muzzle contouring, and vaguely the stock). The stock and trigger don't seem quite like most examples I can find, and I wish I could tell you what those markings were. Those are the most important info you have for identification. My guess is just from eyeballing it.
Could also be identified as Moroccan or Barbary Coast. Similar lock designs used all in that area in the 1800s.
But again, the stock contours and design aren't quite spot on for the above ID. Hopefully someone else specializing older firearm design can help out!
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Post by mrstabby on Jul 17, 2023 18:14:54 GMT
It looks single production hand made to me. You wouldn't be able to really place something like this unless there are unique markings, but I am no expert in those. I know they liked to fake markings as well (like british proof stamps) and they just look like gibberish sometimes, I can't place the ones on the barrel. Could of couse just have been reworked to death and look this way now, the screws speak that it has been in use a long time. I'd put it in the middle east somewhere maybe? Look up bedouin or jezail firearms, they look pretty similar to me (they are the inspiration for the Tusken Raiders rifles in Star Wars btw)
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jul 17, 2023 19:04:49 GMT
As tera has already pointed out that is no matchlock, but a flintlock. I can more accurately say where it is not from and that would be the Americas and Europe. My guess would be from Africa or possibly the middle east.
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Post by exeter on Jul 17, 2023 21:35:48 GMT
I believe that type of lock was called a snaphance.
The trigger appears to be set in the stock backwards, too.
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Post by mrstabby on Jul 18, 2023 7:34:24 GMT
The (for us) backwards trigger was how it was done for a time in many early firearms. Either they copied a sporter flintlock from the 1800s or the person using it just liked it better this way. If it is Jezail, then it is a status object as well, the more unique the better. Or it was incorrectly reassembled once, then it wouldn't work any longer. I have to say though it looks like the trigger was meant to be the right way around, might have been a lockplate and trigger bought in bulk and made into a musket.
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tera
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Post by tera on Jul 18, 2023 16:27:38 GMT
First off, yes, this is does look like a snaphance (more correct than matchlock) so good catch and thanks! Reverse curved triggers existed, Historically, but usually were executed with more grace and I'm not used to seeing one on a NA or Moroccan snaphance. I think I found a similar example. Note how the trigger and stock seem different. A DANGEROUS hypothesis which is almost entirely baseless is that the lock and barrel may have been re-stocked at some point. That might explain the simplicity of the stock and imperfect geometries. The trigger may or may not be original, and may or may not be installed properly. I have nothing to back any of that up with other than my gut. Would have to handle it to get a better feel of things. But here's an example of the type of firearm I'm guessing it is: www.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms/kbl.htmwww.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms.htm(Search the page for "A VERY GOOD EARLY/MID- 19th CENTURY NORTH AFRICAN (MOROCCAN/ALGERIAN) SNAPHAUNCE KABYLE "CAMEL" GUN, ca. 1830" to find text descriptions).
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Post by aguila9 on Jul 24, 2023 14:32:00 GMT
I had a neighbor 45 years ago who had a non working flintlock of unknown origin bearing those same circular marks on the barrel. He stated he had picked it up in Morocco during his travels as a young man. He was an eclectic collector of older weapons and he had picked up a plethora of non-working rifles and beat up sabers and tulwars from his travels.
Wish he was alive now. His young wife disposed of his collection all I got was an old Snyder rifle and an old U.S. cavalry Saber.
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