OTTOMAN TURKISH FLINTLOCK PISTOL, LATE 18TH CENTURY

These elegant Turkish pistols were patterned after Italian pistols of the mid century. Its long elegant proportions are characteristic of the earliest examples. Later examples are shorter and many of these early examples were shortened to conform to later taste. This example is 20 1/4” long with 13 3/8” barrel modeled with a top flat for sighting. The beveled edge lock is engraved with rococo motifs (main spring lacking) and the walnut full stock is well carved in scrolling foliage and chevron bands. The brass furniture is deeply modeled in matching scrolling foliate motifs. This is a horseman’s pistol of the period of Selim III who fought against the Jannisaries and Balkan unrest to keep the Empire intact.