Original 19th Century Balkan Brass Clad Miquelet Lock Rat Tail "Pirate" Pistol - circa 1820 - 1850

Original Item: Only One Available. These were often referred to as Miquelet "Rat Tail" Pistols because of the shape of the stock. These were the traditional muzzle loading pistol of the Balkans and Greece in the early to mid 1800s. Designed to be worn in a sash around one's waist, the weapon is very streamlined in appearance. The stock on this example is almost entirely clad in lovely embossed and engraved sheet brass. The Miquelet ignition system is a hangover from High Quality Italian pistols of the 17th and early 18th centuries. This is a particularly nice example retaining ALL its brass cladding, all complete and simply great. The engraved and embossed designs are lovely, and it has a nice faux ramrod under the barrel, as at sea the ramrod was usually carried on a strap around the neck. There are some small openings on the wrist, which is the only place where the wood under the brass can be seen. There are also some silver nail inlays next to these. The top of the barrel is decorat