Original Item: One of a Kind. This is an impressive early 19th century Moroccan moukahla, or traditional North African long gun, fitted with a large locally made snaphaunce lock and an exceptionally long 52" smoothbore barrel. Measuring approximately 67" overall, it has the distinctive slender fore stock and dramatically flared butt associated with Moroccan firearms, together with four embossed brass barrel bands, extensive barrel engraving, and surviving traces of silver inlay. The combination of its enormous proportions, early ignition system, and hand worked decoration gives this example tremendous visual presence.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This particular gun is intended strictly as a historical display piece. The approximately .65 caliber muzzle has comparatively thin barrel walls, and no attempt should be made to load or fire it.

Long guns of this form are generally known in Morocco as moukahla or moukahla. Moroccan examples were produced for centuries using several ignition systems, including the snaphaunce, an early flint ignition mechanism that remained in use in North Africa long after it had been superseded by later flintlock systems in much of Europe. Surviving museum examples demonstrate that Moroccan snaphaunce guns continued to be produced throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, often with exceptionally long slender barrels, flared stocks, metal barrel bands, and elaborate silver ornament.

The design reflects centuries of interaction between North African and European arms traditions. European snaphaunce guns were exported to the Barbary Coast as early as the 17th century, and North African gunmakers subsequently developed distinctive regional interpretations of the mechanism. Moroccan centers including Tetuan became particularly associated with long, highly decorated snaphaunce guns, and an early 19th century Tetuan example preserved in the Royal Armouries provides a close historical parallel for the general form.

This example measures approximately 67" overall and carries an exceptionally long 52" barrel. The smooth bore measures approximately .65" at the muzzle. The barrel walls are relatively thin at the muzzle, reinforcing its status today as a display piece rather than a firearm suitable for use.

The barrel is one of the most visually impressive features of the gun. Its sides are extensively engraved and embossed, while the top carries decorative patterns that were originally enriched with silver inlay. Portions of that silver remain visible today, providing an attractive contrast against the aged iron surface. The barrel is secured to the extremely slender fore stock by four embossed sheet brass bands, a construction method frequently encountered on traditional Moroccan long guns.

The large snaphaunce lock is locally made in appearance, with deliberately substantial components suited to a mechanism expected to tolerate extended use and relatively simple maintenance. The cock still moves, the mainspring remains present, and the sear will engage the cock, although operation is somewhat finicky. The sliding pan cover also moves forward in conjunction with operation of the lock. These observations describe only the surviving mechanical condition and do not indicate that the gun is safe to fire.

The stock has the characteristic North African profile, beginning with an exceptionally thin fore stock before becoming substantially heavier around the lock and wrist and then expanding dramatically toward the butt. A thumb groove is carved into the rear of the wrist behind the trigger area. Two additional pieces of wood have been incorporated into the butt to increase its width, with the rearmost section displaying especially attractive burl or root figure. The stock is comparatively restrained in ornament compared with the decorated barrel, allowing its unusual architecture to stand out.

Condition of the stock reflects considerable age. There is cracking along portions of the extremely thin fore stock, where very little wood surrounds the barrel, together with additional cracking through areas of the butt. These defects should be expected on a handmade long gun of this age and construction, but they are important to note. The iron trigger guard remains present and carries simple decorative work extending along its tang.

Although arms of this general type are sometimes loosely called “jezails” by Western collectors, that term is much more strongly associated with the long guns of Afghanistan and neighboring regions. For a Moroccan example such as this, moukahla is the more historically and geographically appropriate designation.

With its monumental 67" overall length, 52" engraved and partially silver inlaid barrel, large surviving snaphaunce mechanism, four embossed brass barrel bands, distinctive flared stock, and unmistakable North African character, this is an especially decorative example of the traditional Moroccan long gun. Its handmade construction and mixture of European derived lock technology with distinctly Moroccan styling make it an excellent addition to a collection of Islamic arms, North African firearms, early flint ignition systems, or ethnographic weapons of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1800
Caliber: .65" at muzzle
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 52 inches
Overall Length: 67 inches
Action: Snaphaunce Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

History of the Snaphaunce Lock:

A snaphance or snaphaunce is a type of lock for firing a gun or is a gun using that mechanism. The name is Dutch in origin but the mechanism can not be attributed to the Netherlands with certainty. It is the mechanical progression of the wheellock firing mechanism, and along with the miquelet lock and doglock are predecessors of the flintlock mechanism. It fires from a flint struck against a striker plate above a steel pan to ignite the priming powder which fires the gun. It has a separate cover for the flash pan, unlike the flintlock, which combines the striker and pan cover into a single piece, known as the frizzen. Examples of this firearm can be found through Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

More on the Moukahla Musket:

The Moukahla (Arabic: مكحلة) or moukalla was a type of musket widely used in North Africa, produced by many tribes, clans and nations. They were locally produced across the Maghreb region, in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. They were the most widespread type of guns, being so widespread that every musket was called a Moukahla, and European handbooks translated the English word "gun" as Moukahla.

Lock
Two systems of gunlock prevailed in the Moukahla. One, which derived from Dutch and English types of snaphance lock, was found usually with a thicker lockplate. Half cock was provided by a dog catch behind the cock, and at full cock, the sear passing through the lockplate engaged the heel of the cock. The other mechanism was the so-called Arab toe-lock, a form of miquelet lock, closely allied to the agujeta lock (which required a back or dog catch for half cock) and the Italian romanlock. The term miquelet is used today to describe a particular type of snaplock. The miquelet lock, in all varieties, was common for several centuries in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, particularly in Spain, Italy, the Balkans, and Ottoman domains including the coastal states of North Africa. The type of musket would be described as a Kabyle snaphance or a Kabyle miquelet. Some muskets were converted to the percussion lock starting in the mid-19th century.

Other parts
The moukahla's caliber was usually .67, being very long. At around 6 feet, the plain barrel alone is 44 to 52 inches in length. The barrel was retained in the stock by about twelve iron, brass, or silver bands (capucines). When silver was used, it was often done in the niello form, and may have all metal work engraved and locks may be covered in sheets of silver. The stock and trumpet shaped butt is typically engraved with silver shapes inlaid with coral or ivory, with even the exposed parts of the wooden ramrod being encased with silver.[4]

Issues
Issues in the weapon were noted. When it was first made, it had a comparatively long range due to its long barrel, but by the 19th century its range became average, and by the 20th century it was completely outdated and comparatively short-ranged, causing bursts of smoke when fired, clearing after a long time. Most moukahla lacked bayonets, but organized units such as the Odjak of Algiers, the Odjak of Tunis, and to a certain extent, the Black Guard of Morocco did have bayonets equipped.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.