Original 19th Century Greek or Balkan Ornate Silver Clad Miquelet Lock Rat Tail Pistol - circa 1800

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 wood stock is profusely decorated with embossings of fabulously worked Silver, which could possibly be cast pieces which were engraved. The Miquelet ignition system is a hangover from High Quality Italian pistols of the 17th and early 18th centuries. This is a particularly breathtaking example, retaining ALL its high quality Silver mountings, all complete. The Miquelet lock is also engraved on just about every piece except for the spring. The barrel also has some simple engravings, and traces of silver inlay. Interestingly, part of the wood stock is deliberately exposed quite deliberately which is rather unusual for these pistols. This is certainly most unusual