Miquelet Rifle

Unknown

barrel dated A.H. 1151/1738–39 CE; lock dated A.H. 1240/1824–25 CE · Steel, wood, silver, gold, copper alloy, textile · Arms and Armor

This is a late example of a traditional Turkish gun, distinguished by a miquelet lock, a hexagonal butt, a “ball” trigger without a trigger-guard, and a long barrel held by numerous bands. The barrel dates almost a century earlier and is inlaid in gold with a poem referring to the gun’s accuracy in the service of Islam. Elaborate guns of this type would have been reserved for hunting and target shooting.

Artist

Unknown

Date

barrel dated A.H. 1151/1738–39 CE; lock dated A.H. 1240/1824–25 CE

Medium

Steel, wood, silver, gold, copper alloy, textile

Culture

barrel, probably Iranian; lock and stock, Turkish

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. William E. S. Griswold, Mrs. William Sloane and John Sloane, 1943