Miquelet Pistol

19th century and all external features point to the city of Elbasan (present-day Albania) as the location of maufacture.

Large parts of the Balkan region had been under Ottoman rule for centuries and the region was renowned for its weapons production and craftsmanship.

These types of pistols were made in small manufactories, within families and clans, and then sold to merchants on the local markets from where they made their way to the East. The owners of these pistols were ostentatious and frequently polished the barrel to make them shine in the sun. As a result, decorations on the barrel are often worn.

With an impressive length of 58 cm and a caliber of 16 mm, our example belongs to the large versions. The decorations of the brass fittings are nice and intact. Light traces of surface rust and pitting.

Literature:

Robert Elgood, 'The Arms of Greece and her Balkan neighbors in the Ottoman period', p. 200 - 203.