Albanian Tanchika

[Treeslicer]

Rick-

Is that barrel welded Damascus like it looks in the photos?

[Richard G]

I would guess the 'indentation' at the end of the ramrod is actually a hole through which you can thread a rag if you want to swab the barrel.
Is it my imagination, or is there script on the top jaw of the cock?
Regards
Richard

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by Richard G

I would guess the 'indentation' at the end of the ramrod is actually a hole through which you can thread a rag if you want to swab the barrel.
Is it my imagination, or is there script on the top jaw of the cock?
Regards
Richard

Hi Richard,
I doubt that the indentation is actually a hole as it would considerably weaken the end of the rod. Rick will no doubt confirm or deny this when he next replies.
Stu

[TVV]

I do not think there is such a thing as "too many" tanchikas, especially if they are as nice as this one. Congratulations on a truly great piece. The barrel is most definitely damascus, and probably deserves to be etched, as it looks like a nice complex pattern on those sections where it is visible on the photos. It looks like an old Ottoman or Persian barrel, 18th century or older (per Elgood) and the rest of the gun certainly matches in quality.

Regards,
Teodor

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by TVV

I do not think there is such a thing as "too many" tanchikas, especially if they are as nice as this one. Congratulations on a truly great piece. The barrel is most definitely damascus, and probably deserves to be etched, as it looks like a nice complex pattern on those sections where it is visible on the photos. It looks like an old Ottoman or Persian barrel, 18th century or older (per Elgood) and the rest of the gun certainly matches in quality.

Regards,
Teodor

Hi Teodor

Thank you for the kind comments. Yes, I'm really happy finding this one. Wasn't going to let it get away. LOL
And, thank you for your interesting suggestion. The engraving on top of the barrel is similar to another known Persian made barrel that I own. Also, the early Persian made barrels seem to have a different style of front sight arrangement, similar to this one. However, the rear sight is very typical of ones you see on other Albanian Tanchikas.
If the barrel is earlier, and was reused for this gun, that would answer another question of why the barrel has seen very light usage, but the lock looks like it's never had a flint against the frizzen. Even the threads on the top jaw screw are sharp and snug. No wobble/play at all.
I'll re-post the barrel only to see if anyone can reconize the damascus pattern after I clean it.

Rick

[rickystl]

I want to thank everyone who posted on this Thread. Took a while to get back to everyone. The comments were most helpful.
This gun will actually clean up much better than it looks at present. It doesn't even look like it's been outside in the elements. There's only a couple small marks on the bottoem butt late. It's almost as if someone built it and than sat it in a dry corner for 200 years. LOL. Anyway, here is my current plan for it:

1 The lock needs to be completely disassembled and given a normal oil cleaning so you can get into all the crevices. Then re-assemble.
2 I'll take the barrel off the stock and clean the bore better and give the outside a light oil cleaning all over. (I'll repost it here for a better I.D. before putting it back into the stock) and give the silver mounts a very light cleaning.
3 The wood on the stock just needs a light cleaning and a thin coat of Renwax. Will look much better and bring out the black better.
4 Thanks to Kubur's sharp eye, I will need to replace the four little missing stones. I'm sure it would have looked something like a half of a round bead (?) But what type of stone (or jewel?). Seems like turquoise would be appropriate for Albanian ? What type was used on Albanian blade handles/scabbards ?

Rick

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Richard G

I would guess the 'indentation' at the end of the ramrod is actually a hole through which you can thread a rag if you want to swab the barrel.
Is it my imagination, or is there script on the top jaw of the cock?
Regards
Richard

Hi Richard G

No, it's just additional decorative engraving. This is the first of these common style Balkan locks I've seen with that additional engraving on the jaws of the hammer. But I guess in this case it's fitting with the rest of the gun's quality.

Rick

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by Treeslicer

Rick-

Is that barrel welded Damascus like it looks in the photos?

Hi Treeslicer

Yes, the barrel is some type of pattern damascus. But I'm not knowledgeable enough to offer a good I.D. But, I know there are members on this Forum that are really well versed in the different damascus patterns. I plan on posting the barrel only once I remove it from the stock and do a light oil cleaning. Should be interesting.

By the way, ferrocerium does in fact work very well in wheellocks. It's harder than pyrite, but still much softer than the wheel. Doesn't crumble like pyrite either.

Rick