DESCRIPTION: Very nice, elaborately silver - decorated North African musket with snaphance style lock from the turn of 18/19th century. Caliber: 13 mm. This type of musket is characteristic for Morocco. George Stone calls it, "Kabyle gun". Antony Tirry describes the musket as, "Taouzilt form of Moroccan Mukahla", of the style indigenous to Ras el Qued in the high valley of the Sous Mountains. This is certainly the most lavishly decorated weapon carried by the Moroccan tribesmen. The high quality workmanship of Taouzilts is attributed to the descendants of Jews expelled from Spain. The left side of the back of the barrel displays two marker's marks (please, see pictures). The trigger guard displays a nice silver niello decorative motifs. Conventional butt stock design. The butt stock is completely covered with silver plates, mesh and silver studs. The silver plates displays elaborate niello decorations. Half-round, half octagonal barrel. Bulbous flared muzzle. The snaphance lock is rather plain. Thirteen silver barrel bands decorated in floral motifs. Simple, non-adjustable rear and front sights. Complete with original iron ramrod. Overall length: 62 inch. Barrel length: 48.5 inch. The musket was at one time a part of the Anthony C. Tirri's collection, an author of "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul". CONDITION: Overall, the musket is in fine condition. The musket is in original condition with no repairs. The lock is well preserved, with only occasional light patina. Some scattered light patina is also visible on the barrel and the steel parts of the buttstock. The snaphance style lock works fine. The stock is free of cracks. Some wear to the front part of the stock along the barrel lines. A very nice example of the seldom encountered musket for a collector of Islamic firearms. (Ref. "A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor", by George Cameron Stone , p. 257, also in "Islamic Weapons. Maghrib to Moghul", by Anthony C. Tirri, p.22).
