A FINE QUALITY BALKAN (ALBANIAN) MIQUELET HOLSTER PISTOL :-ca. 1820-1840

In overall very fine untouched original flintlock condition. The round, wire-band and pin-fastened, .65 caliber, Native-made/Turkish?, chiseled and etched, smoothbore, 13", iron barrel with finely chiseled and brass/silver inlayed floral scrolls (at the breech); and the top with a raised integral sighting rib. Of fine quality with a sharp attention to detail, a fine touch-hole and contours. Classic Balkan type, lightly etched and engraved, Miquelet lock/mechanism with its rectangular-jaw hammer/dog and its round-top-finial jaw-screw. Exposed mainspring, lightly engraved powder-pan-fence and its grooved-faced squared-back frizzen. Of fine quality Ottoman-inspired/Balkan manufacture with sharp contours, fine engraving and 65%+ latent polish finish. Retains its original components, both of its side-bolts and has a 

strong main/frizzen-spring. Slightly out of timing, as will not easily release from full-cocked position. Extensively carved, checkered and wire-inlayed, light colored, walnut fullstock of typical Ottoman/Balkan influenced form with a pronounced bulbous butt and floral/vine scroll relief carving overall. The barrel tang with a deeply relief carved floral scroll, accented with finely checkered borders and silver and brass wire inlays. Of classic Balkan form, as is fitted with its removable “False” wooden ramrod with bullnose tip. Finely etched and embossed brass mounts. Stirrup type butt-cap with a pronounced pommel and etched and embossed vine and floral scrolls borders: a deeply embossed rounded finial pommel-cap. Matching trigger-guard with acanthus leaf forward finial and a lightly etched bow. Two (2) barrel-form ramrod pipes, an openwork rifle-type, triangular sideplate with slightly coarse scroll engraving; and a line engraved, shield-type wrist escutcheon. In overall very fine original “flintlock” condition. The barrel and lock with matching, smooth, untouched, gunmetal gray surfaces and some light patches of discoloration: the barrel with fine quality engravings and brass inlay, on its breech. The lock, en suite with generally smooth steel surface. Very fine stock with light signs of use, only some minor handling marks and 90% finish. The hardware with a fine and untouched, mustard-toned age patina and a fine attention to the etched and embossed details. A high quality and Large Size Balkan Miquelet Holster Pistol, ca. 1820-1840. Overall length, 20".
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