Strange pistol
 

Hi Guys,

I got this pistol supposed to be from Morocco.
The lock is Spanish. The shape is very close to a wheellock pistol.
It's not a decorative pistol, it's a big and heavy monster with a nice barrel too.
I'm thinking that it could be from Tangiers very close from the Spanish shores.
Any ideas? I'm sure that Rick will have something to say...
Thanks

Kubur

It is Moroccan, subtle differences in the form and the engraved motifs confirm it. Whether from Tangier or not is more difficult to determine.

The form is, as you say, Spanish. The reason for the lobe on the underside of the stock ahead of the trigger is that the form follows the wheellock, as you suggest. When smiths transitioned from wheellock to miquelet (a much less expensive and more reliable system,) the lobe remained for quite some time. This feature is visible on Eftihis' musket as well.
The earliest of these guns feature a miquelet lockplate which bulges at the bottom edge like a wheellock lockplate, the stock simply mirrors it. Later in its development, the lockplate is flatter along the lower edge, but the space remains and is filled with a separate plate, since the stock retains the lobe. This appears on your example. Finally, it disappears altogether and the stock likewise flattens at that point to conform to the shape of the lockplate.

See R. Held, Arms & Armour Annual, Northfiled, Digest, 1973, p. 121 for an in-depth article on this topic.

Thank you very much Oliver, for the references and you confirmed what i was thinking. Now how old? The pistol is in an excellent condition and I assume that he is not earlier than the 19th c. But with all these archaic features, stock, lock, trigger... I'm just wondering... I was saying Tangier because this pistol is different from the classic and less elaborate South Moroccan pistols with the Dutch lock...
Again thanks!

Hi Kubur.

WOW!! What a beautiful pistol. Where ever did you find it ? LOL. And it appears to have not seen much use. I can't really add much to Oliver's comments. It is a really interesting confluence of styles. As mentioned, the general stock shape reflects the early wheellock pistols. The white metal overlay on the stock grip and forearm remind me of the early spanish pistols. But, as Oliver mentions, the engravings/motifs seem to confirm it's Moroccan origins. The lock is Spanish in style. A good catch by Oliver is the small decorative plate, just below the lock plate, to fill the gap at the protruded area.
It's obvious this pistol was made to a specific customer's specifications.
Great find Kubur. Wish I had seen it first. :( LOL. If you have a chance, please take some more photos. Especially around the pan/vent hole area. Dating this one is difficult. Hmmm......my best guess, using the lock as a guide, might be the first quarter of the 19th Century.

Rick

Hi Rick,
I guess your two points are linked. I will do it but I can't see any problem there. Too good and too clean to be true, but as far i can see there is nothing wrong with this pistol, just maybe a diplomatic gift? I will look closer if i can find a signature...

HI KUBUR ,WHAT A BEAUTY,I LIKE IT,MAY BE MORE THAN YOU,DO THINK OF ME WHEN SHE DOES NOT LIKE YOU ANY MORE,CHEERS