Exceptional Algerian Long Gun

rickystl · 28th June 2015, 04:02 PM

Hello everyone.
Here is another Algerian long gun from my collection. When I first saw this gun I thought it was a replica, due to it's condition. But then I immediatly thought: Who would make a replica of this? It's neither a replica or a tourist grade item. So the next thought was that the gun had been refinished. And their may be some evidence of some cleaning. But I can't detect any real evidence of refinishing. The simple wood ramrod has no evidence of sandpaper. All made with a file. The lock is authentic and seems to have a maker mark. It has only a thin, but even fading of the original brass overlay. The only issue being the broken corner of the frizzen (battery). Even the inside of the barrel looks like it's never been fired. The thin metal butt plate cap looks like it might have been a latter addition due to the style of screw heads. But the walrus butt plate and other inlays show only the slightest amount of aging. The silver barrel bands were done in typical Algerian fasion, but show virtually no aging.
Overall, the gun "looks" like it was made in the third or fourth quarter of the 19th Century, and then put in a closet to sit for the next 125+ years LOL.

It certainly displays well.
I purchased this gun a few years ago from a reputible dealer in antique arms. He made an attempt to trace back the providence through previous owners. But the previous owner had passed away. His wife really new nothing about the gun. But she seemed to remember him purchasing the gun from a museum in California where it resided for many years, and that it resided in a mueum in Greece many years before that.
Anyway, picture heavy. So hope you enjoy. And thanks for looking.
Rick.

rickystl · 28th June 2015, 04:03 PM

MORE PICS........

rickystl · 28th June 2015, 04:06 PM

STILL MORE PICS......

rickystl · 28th June 2015, 04:08 PM

LAST ONES......

kahnjar1 · 29th June 2015, 07:35 AM

Another nice piece Rick. Is the dog to hold the cock back, misplaced from it's peg? From the second pic, it looks to be just sitting there......
Stu

rickystl · 2nd July 2015, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Another nice piece Rick. Is the dog to hold the cock back, misplaced from it's peg? From the second pic, it looks to be just sitting there......
Stu

Hi Stu.
The dog safety catch works perfect. When the hammer is pulled back, the dog safety is manually pushed forward to engage the hammer. Then, when ready to fire, pull the hammer back again and the dog safety falls backward out of the way and it's ready to fire.
Rick

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 29th June 2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickystl

LAST ONES......

Salaams rickystl, I was looking at examples of clear ageing and viewed http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=4450 to see if there was anything I could compare it with... Your Gun is quite simply immaculately clean... Patina is there if you take a magnifying glass to find it otherwise its pristine condition reflects the history of a gun from a museum / collection perhaps from the getgo....The "made by" mark is all there ... I agree not a repro and not some cheap copy...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

thinreadline · 30th June 2015, 07:46 AM

The crown over M is interesting , looking very European .... what do you think the significance of that is ?

rickystl · 2nd July 2015, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Salaams rickystl, I was looking at examples of clear ageing and viewed http://www.oriental-arms.com/photos.php?id=4450 to see if there was anything I could compare it with... Your Gun is quite simply immaculately clean... Patina is there if you take a magnifying glass to find it otherwise its pristine condition reflects the history of a gun from a museum / collection perhaps from the getgo....The "made by" mark is all there ... I agree not a repro and not some cheap copy...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Salaam a Ibrahiim.
Thank you for your comments. Yes, under magnafication, especially the thin edges of the stock where it meets the barrel, you can detect the aging. But there is no sign of real refinishing or chemical aging. As you say, the gun is in pristine condition. Other than an occasional handling mark, there is just no sign of any use. It' probably the best condition example I've ever seen. That's why I had to have it. LOL Thanks agin for you observations.
Rick

28th June 2015, 04:02 PM	#1
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	Exceptional Algerian Long Gun Hello everyone. Here is another Algerian long gun from my collection. When I first saw this gun I thought it was a replica, due to it's condition. But then I immediatly thought: Who would make a replica of this? It's neither a replica or a tourist grade item. So the next thought was that the gun had been refinished. And their may be some evidence of some cleaning. But I can't detect any real evidence of refinishing. The simple wood ramrod has no evidence of sandpaper. All made with a file. The lock is authentic and seems to have a maker mark. It has only a thin, but even fading of the original brass overlay. The only issue being the broken corner of the frizzen (battery). Even the inside of the barrel looks like it's never been fired. The thin metal butt plate cap looks like it might have been a latter addition due to the style of screw heads. But the walrus butt plate and other inlays show only the slightest amount of aging. The silver barrel bands were done in typical Algerian fasion, but show virtually no aging. Overall, the gun "looks" like it was made in the third or fourth quarter of the 19th Century, and then put in a closet to sit for the next 125+ years LOL. It certainly displays well. I purchased this gun a few years ago from a reputible dealer in antique arms. He made an attempt to trace back the providence through previous owners. But the previous owner had passed away. His wife really new nothing about the gun. But she seemed to remember him purchasing the gun from a museum in California where it resided for many years, and that it resided in a mueum in Greece many years before that. Anyway, picture heavy. So hope you enjoy. And thanks for looking. Rick. Attached Images

28th June 2015, 04:03 PM	#2
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	MORE PICS........ Attached Images

28th June 2015, 04:06 PM	#3
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	STILL MORE PICS...... Attached Images

28th June 2015, 04:08 PM	#4
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,621	LAST ONES...... Attached Images

29th June 2015, 07:35 AM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,730	Another nice piece Rick. Is the dog to hold the cock back, misplaced from it's peg? From the second pic, it looks to be just sitting there...... Stu

30th June 2015, 07:46 AM	#8
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	The crown over M is interesting , looking very European .... what do you think the significance of that is ?