Profusely decorated early 19th Century Albanian miquelet "Rat tail" pistol. Caliber: 14 mm. Albania was a part of the Ottoman Empire at the time. The region was famous for a large number of gun makers, who manufactured this kind of pistol in big quantities for the Ottoman army. The entire stock is covered with lightly engraved brass plates, which is a characteristic feature of Albanian pistols. The pistol is decorated with ornamental motifs. The lock plate displays the gun maker mark in Arabic characters. The left side of the barrel displays a museum, or perhaps, a collection number (please, see pictures). Half-octagonal, half-round barrel. Two brass barrel band decorated in oriental motifs. Complete with a simple iron ramrod (probably, a replacement). The pistols of this pattern were used extensively in many wars in the Balkans, including the Greek uprisings. CONDITION: The pistol is in overall fine, all original condition. The barrel shows some scattered light patina. The miquelet lock shows some brown patina. The stock is solid and nicely preserved. The bore is in very good condition. Miquelet lock is in working order. The pistol does not show any repairs. All the parts are original to the pistol, except for the ramrod. Overall length: 21.25 inch. Barrel length: 13 inch. Nice example of the Albanian "Rat Tail" miquelet pistol. (Ref. "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul" , by Anthony C. Tirri, p.159)
