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Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, Mid-19th Century.
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
sold SA1189449
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2020
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    We specialise in flintlock pistols, muskets, clocks & watches
Id #SA1189449
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Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, Mid-19th Century.

19th century
Description

A rare unusual and decorative hybrid musket, which is typical of many Ottoman muskets.

Regulation British smoothbore barrel, .600 calibre, 39 inches in length, with original brass trigger guard. Military lock plate clearly marked “1856 TOWER”, with crowned VR stamped to the tang.

The stock reworked in distinctive North African style: butt overlaid with cowrie shells arranged in tight curved rows, the fore-end sheathed in scroll-embossed white metal (possibly low grade silver) panels and secured by seven white metal barrel bands. Additional Arabic inscription to the barrel reading “al-Hajj Ali”, denoting ownership by a Muslim pilgrim.

These decorated muskets were popular across the Maghreb in the 19th century, combining British surplus military locks and barrels with local decorative tastes, serving both as functional arms and prestige display pieces.

Condition: Lock complete but showing rust and wear, cock frozen, wood with losses around breech but stable; decorative metalwork aged with patina. Cowrie shell butt intact with minor losses. Not suitable for firing.

Arabic script as something like:

????? ??? (al-Hajj Ali) ? “The Pilgrim Ali”

This is a common form of personal name — “al-Hajj” is an honorific given to a Muslim who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

So likely the musket once belonged to or was inscribed for a man named Ali who had the title of al-Hajj. This fits with North African Islamic ownership.

Dimensions: Overall length approx. 55 inches (140 cm). Barrel 39 inches (99 cm). Bore approx. .600 calibre.

Provenance: Private UK collection.

Declaration

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1189449
Dealers Internal Reference
M1-312-6
Dealers Notes

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria, Portobello Road

WE are open every Saturday between 9.30 - 3.30pm in Chelsea Galleries 67 Portobello Road London.

We are at the front of the gallery, on the 1st aisle.

Web page:-

https://peterharrisclocks.com/welcome/

Description
A rare unusual and decorative hybrid musket, which is typical of many Ottoman muskets.

Regulation British smoothbore barrel, .600 calibre, 39 inches in length, with original brass trigger guard. Military lock plate clearly marked “1856 TOWER”, with crowned VR stamped to the tang.

The stock reworked in distinctive North African style: butt overlaid with cowrie shells arranged in tight curved rows, the fore-end sheathed in scroll-embossed white metal (possibly low grade silver) panels and secured by seven white metal barrel bands.

“
Additional Arabic inscription to the barrel reading “al-Hajj Ali”, denoting ownership by a Muslim pilgrim.
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
fig 1. Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
fig 1. Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, Mid-19th Century.

These decorated muskets were popular across the Maghreb in the 19th century, combining British surplus military locks and barrels with local decorative tastes, serving both as functional arms and prestige display pieces.

fig 2. Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
fig 2. Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, Mid-19th Century.

Condition: Lock complete but showing rust and wear, cock frozen, wood with losses around breech but stable; decorative metalwork aged with patina. Cowrie shell butt intact with minor losses. Not suitable for firing.

fig 3. Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
fig 3. Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, Mid-19th Century.

Arabic script as something like:

????? ??? (al-Hajj Ali) ? “The Pilgrim Ali”

This is a common form of personal name — “al-Hajj” is an honorific given to a Muslim who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

So likely the musket once belonged to or was inscribed for a man named Ali who had the title of al-Hajj. This fits with North African Islamic ownership.

Dimensions: Overall length approx. 55 inches (140 cm). Barrel 39 inches (99 cm). Bore approx. .600 calibre.

Provenance: Private UK collection.

Date of Manufacture

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1189449
Dealers Internal Ref
M1-312-6
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2020

We specialise in flintlock pistols, muskets, clocks & watches

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria Profile Page

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Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
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Archive I Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.

Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, Mid-19th Century.

Archive II Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View II
Archive III Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View III
Archive IV Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View IV
Archive V Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View V
Archive VI Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View VI
Archive VII Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View VII
Archive VIII Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View VIII
Archive IX Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View IX
Archive X Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View X
Archive XI Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XI
Archive XII Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XII
Archive XIII Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XIII
Archive XIV Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XIV
Archive XV Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XV
Archive XVI Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XVI
Archive XVII Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XVII
Archive XVIII Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XVIII
Archive XIX Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XIX
Archive XX Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century. View XX
Enlarged Archival View
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria

Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Telephone 07930 536818
Location
London
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/peterharrisclocks
Verified Since Nov 2020
Items For Sale 94
Items Sold 110
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Peter Harris Clocks & Militaria
Verified Since Nov 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: London, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/peterharrisclocks
Verified
Nov 2020
For Sale
94
Sold
110
Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
Ref: SA1189449
Rare North African Musket with Tower Lock, mid-19th century.
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