Original 18th Century Cossack Silver-mounted Miquelet Ball Butt Pistol with Gold Inlay c.1760-1800

Original Item: Only One Available. Probably dating to 1760-1800, this is a drop dead gorgeous ball butted MIQUELET lock pistol fitted with a "ball" trigger. Measuring 13 1/2" in overall length with an 8" barrel. The lower half of the ball butt and the entire upper portion of the hand grip and the three wide barrel rings, all of Silver with the exposed parts of the iron barrel, the ball butt trigger and the entire lock smothered in gold inlays. Truly amazing and very attractive! The pistol appears to be a Maker's mark cartouche on the lock plate. Never fitted with a trigger guard these pistols were designed to be worn thrust in a sash around the waist of the mounted Cossack. The main body of the pistol is mostly covered in what looks to be fine grained leather, or some type of pebbled finish, which is very interesting! The upper part of the Ball butt is not covered in silver, and is made of polished quality wood. This particular pistol has languished in a private collection up on Cape C