PAIR OF OTTOMAN SILVER-MOUNTED MIQUELET KUBUR PISTOLS

This matching pair of miquelet holster pistols features crude artisan workmanship, and dates to the late 19th century, most probably to the Arabic Peninsula or one of the Maghrib countries. They illustrate the type of wares peddled to the Westerners who ventured into the Northern Africa in search of adventure. The decorations are primitive and even naive, but the pistols are fully-functional, with machine-made screws on the locks. The rest of the metal parts are hand-made, and not of the most illustrious quality. Nevertheless these are honest period pieces - barrels show corrosion from firing. Overall length of about 46 cm, barrels are about 23 cm-long, in approx. 15 mm caliber.