georgian/chechen pistol ?

[Rivkin]

This what I think is most likely georgian (p. 375 Astv.) or even chechen pistol, dated 1879 (?). Strange locks, to me look like very old turkish. Heavily used guy :). There are some strange marks under the barrels, look like hallmarks, unreadable, like a lot of zigzags. Enjoy !

[Yannis]

Very nice piece! But why you say about Turkish locks? From the photos I think they are miquelets, very common in Caucasus. The decoration of the locks, yes it is unusual. It could be Turkish or Persian. And the date is rather late for these locks, so maybe the locks are earlier and they were remount.

[Marcus]

I do agree they are probably miquelet locks but it would be nice to see a better picture of them. However, the use of this style lock is not too anamolous for the date, since that style remained popular in many regions throughout the flintlock era. One frequently sees Albanian miquelets that were Turkish contract pieces made in the early 1800's, and miquelet percussion pistols were made in Spain in the early-mid 19th century (see links below).
Marcus

Albanian:
http://www.mbi.ufl.edu/papkelab/curios/RatTail.JPG

Spanish:
http://www.mbi.ufl.edu/papkelab/curios/BeltPistol.JPG

[Rivkin]

well, I thought that it is XVIIIth century, possibly even the first half (based on locks). But then I saw the signature (displayed above) on the locks which I think quite certainly testifies to the end of XIXth century.

[Marcus]

So, they are not Miquelet locks after all?
Marcus

[Rivkin]

Definitely miquelet.