Help for markings on barrels

LPCA · 25th February 2009, 12:09 PM

Bonjour, friends.
Maybe this forum is not the right place for this thread. Anyway, i try...
Problem is writings on barrels.
One is a Abou Fitila musquet of Arabic Peninsula and the other, his brother Indo-Arab musquet of Malabar coast (south India) .
Same size for their barrels, mostly the same construction - octogonal with a tuliped mouth - engravings with copper (AF) and silver (IA) - caliber 16mm (AF) and 17mm (IA).
On each one, at the same place, there is a writing seeming to be différent, but giving indication of an oriental provenance.
Arabs used to import barrels due to the lack of iron ( from Persia, India, ...) while India made them.
Maybe these 2 barrels are from indian provenance.

Is there someone able to traduce these writings?

To see description in french (none's perfect!), please clic on:
http://blade.japet.com/B-aboufitila.htm
http://blade.japet.com/B-indoarab.htm

Merci
Louis-Pierre

Jens Nordlunde · 25th February 2009, 03:55 PM

LPCA,
I don't think I can help you, but please show the stamps in the way they are located on the barrels - maybe it helps, and maybe not.
Jens

LPCA · 25th February 2009, 04:19 PM

You are right, Jens. Here under the way to the mouth. Louis-Pierre

Jens Nordlunde · 25th February 2009, 07:27 PM

Hello Louis-Pierre,
To my opinion the stamps should turn this way.
I cant say that I see any writing in the signs, maybe others, with a bigger knowledge than mine does, but to me they are smith's marks, or maybe armoury marks - although I think they are smith's marks.
My guess would be, although it is very far fetched, be to try to have a look at the marks from Gujarat and that area, south west Rajasthan - but at the same time, I tell you it is a wild guess, and it may be wrong.
Jens

ward · 25th February 2009, 09:55 PM

Signature on the right reads Work of Hassan, the one of the left may be Work of Halui but hard to say from these pics

LPCA · 26th February 2009, 06:07 AM

Bonjour,

Yes, Jens, you are right : they are deeply stamped smith's marks and the reading sens is now the right one too.

Thanks to Ward for his translations and i apologize for the lack of sharpness of the pics, as you imagine, never easy to catch.

Ward, are they arabic characters?

It is very possible that these barrels had been made by Moslem craftsmen (Arabic or Indians) in South of India.

With my sincere thanks to you both.
Louis-Pierre

25th February 2009, 12:09 PM	#1
LPCA Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toulouse - FRANCE Posts: 83	Help for markings on barrels Bonjour, friends. Maybe this forum is not the right place for this thread. Anyway, i try... Problem is writings on barrels. One is a Abou Fitila musquet of Arabic Peninsula and the other, his brother Indo-Arab musquet of Malabar coast (south India) . Same size for their barrels, mostly the same construction - octogonal with a tuliped mouth - engravings with copper (AF) and silver (IA) - caliber 16mm (AF) and 17mm (IA). On each one, at the same place, there is a writing seeming to be différent, but giving indication of an oriental provenance. Arabs used to import barrels due to the lack of iron ( from Persia, India, ...) while India made them. Maybe these 2 barrels are from indian provenance. Is there someone able to traduce these writings? To see description in french (none's perfect!), please clic on: http://blade.japet.com/B-aboufitila.htm http://blade.japet.com/B-indoarab.htm Merci Louis-Pierre Attached Images

25th February 2009, 04:19 PM	#3
LPCA Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toulouse - FRANCE Posts: 83	You are right, Jens. Here under the way to the mouth. Louis-Pierre Attached Images

25th February 2009, 07:27 PM	#4
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	Hello Louis-Pierre, To my opinion the stamps should turn this way. I cant say that I see any writing in the signs, maybe others, with a bigger knowledge than mine does, but to me they are smith's marks, or maybe armoury marks - although I think they are smith's marks. My guess would be, although it is very far fetched, be to try to have a look at the marks from Gujarat and that area, south west Rajasthan - but at the same time, I tell you it is a wild guess, and it may be wrong. Jens Attached Images

25th February 2009, 03:55 PM	#2
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,713	LPCA, I don't think I can help you, but please show the stamps in the way they are located on the barrels - maybe it helps, and maybe not. Jens

25th February 2009, 09:55 PM	#5
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Signature on the right reads Work of Hassan, the one of the left may be Work of Halui but hard to say from these pics

26th February 2009, 06:07 AM	#6
LPCA Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toulouse - FRANCE Posts: 83	Bonjour, Yes, Jens, you are right : they are deeply stamped smith's marks and the reading sens is now the right one too. Thanks to Ward for his translations and i apologize for the lack of sharpness of the pics, as you imagine, never easy to catch. Ward, are they arabic characters? It is very possible that these barrels had been made by Moslem craftsmen (Arabic or Indians) in South of India. With my sincere thanks to you both. Louis-Pierre