Algerian Pistol - Sad Story with Happy Ending

[rickystl]

Hello Again.

Phase-II: Restoration begins..........
I sent the stock to be restored to fellow Forum member Philip Tom for repairs.
Philip restored the grip and trigger guard area as well as added the missing wood around the lock area. You cannot even tell any work was ever done !!
What a masterful job. (Thank You Philip!!!!).
While this was being done, I took the lock and let it soak in Krol Oil for a week. Then completely disassembled it and gave it a through cleaning with brushes and oil. The lock would not hold on full cock. But this was due to hardened dirt, grime, and even a trace of hardened black powder. The lock cleaned up well and functions well. Strong mainspring that still locks positively in both half and full cock notches. And a bit of a surprise that the cleaning exposed: Bot he tumbler and trigger bar (sear) have most of their fire blue finish still intact. Which makes me think that the entire lock may have originally been fire blued before the silver decoration was added. Hmmm. Anyway, very happy with the lock clean up.

When I originally sent the stock to Philip it still had the barrel intact. So after he sent it back to me I removed the barrel to clean it and discovered another issue. LOL There was a splice about 8" long down the center of the forend. DARN. I should have removed the barrel first before sending it to Philip. My bad. Philip could have fixed this also while the stock was there. There was no way to tell this without removing the barrel. Fortunately, it was a clean, lengthwise split and was easily glued together using ZAP Medium viscosity glue. Forend now holds firmly. All is good. Just have to re-assemble everything. I'll post pics of the finished gun next Post. Meantime, here is the cleaned up lock........

Rick

Rick

[rickystl]

Now to post photos of the finished gun ready to join the collection....

The original auction description listed this pistol as Moroccan (which it could be). But from the beginning, I believed it was Algerian. (Philip Tom agreed with me). The silver decoration on the stock is done in a manner VERY similar to what you see on many Algerian long guns.
Before the auction, I also believed that both the lock and barrel were both European. The mechanicals of the lock are much better than the locally made Balkan style flintlocks. Even the threads on the screws are up to European snuff. Very high quality lock and functions perfect.
The barrel also looks to be of European manufacture with it's fluted area resembling Bresican barrels from the 17th Century. The barrel is 16.5" long and .54 caliber. The OAL of the pistol is 22.5" So it's a large example.

So in sum, I believe I have an Algerian pistol, assembled locally, using a high quality European (probably Italy) lock and barrel. Here are some pics of the finished gun. Photo heavy. What are others thoughts on the origin(s) of final assembly ? Thanks for viewing and any relies.

Rick

[rickystl]

MORE PICS........

[rickystl]

STILL MORE PICS........

[rickystl]

LAST ONES.......

[kahnjar1]

Hi Rick,
Well the wait was worth it. The restoration work done is top notch IMHO, and you now have a beautiful pistol.
Question....those numbers on the barrel are much later and do not seem to "fit" with the pistol itself. Do you know if this gun spent any time in Ireland? as at one stage ALL guns had to be numbered in this manner, or is it an inventory number form some establishment?
Stu

[rickystl]

Hi Stu

Thanks for the kind words. Philip and I were discussing this. We think this is some type of capture/rack/inventory number used by the French after their control of Algeria. Makes sense. I've seen these later numbers before on other Moroccan and Algerian guns. Much the same way the British did in later times to the Indian matchlocks that were still in use.

Rick

[Kubur]

Hi Rick

it's not a sad story, its a cool pistol and a very good repair.
Do you remember this post about the number?
http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread...lgerian+pistol

congrats