Original 19th Century Balkan Embossed Brass Clad Miquelet Lock Rat Tail "Pirate" Pistol - circa 1800 - 1820

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 most of its brass cladding, though we suspect there was originally more wrapped around the muzzle, which would have served as a barrel band and covered up the end of the faux ramrod under the barrel. At sea the ramrod was usually carried on a strap around the neck. The engraved and embossed designs are lovely, and only on the grip area is the wooden stock still visible. In this location there are some lovely perf