Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original late 18th century Ottoman Balkan kubur flintlock horse pistol, circa 1790, made in the regional style while closely following contemporary Western European pistol forms. It features an extensively carved stock with silver wire inlay, engraved and embossed brass furniture, a decorative long eared butt cap, and a 14 1/4" tapered barrel measuring approximately .63" at the bore. Overall length is approximately 22".

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.

The stock is highly ornamented and displays extensive carving around the major fittings. Silver wire inlay decorates the grip area, with additional inlay around the lock and barrel tang. The rear of the grip carries a small circular inlaid element toward the upper portion, while the lower grip is fitted with a silver filigree escutcheon incorporating small inset stones and areas of niello style decoration.

Additional silver wire inlay is present along the underside of the faux ramrod area beneath the barrel. The long eared butt cap is heavily raised and embossed, with a central silver rosette projecting approximately 1/2" above the surrounding surface.

The pistol measures approximately:

22" overall
14 1/4" barrel
Approximately .63" bore

The barrel is octagonal at the breech before transitioning to round toward the forward section, with a tapered profile and slight flare at the muzzle. A faded marking remains on the top flat but is too worn to read with confidence. The barrel was originally more highly decorated, though repeated cleaning has worn away much of the embossed surface detail.

The flintlock is heavily engraved throughout, including the lock plate, frizzen, swan neck cock, and pan. The mechanism currently holds at half cock and releases from full cock. The mainspring is exceptionally strong and requires significant effort to bring the cock to position. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the pistol is safe to load or fire.

In keeping with Balkan Ottoman decorative practice, the apparent ramrod beneath the barrel is a faux element incorporated into the stock rather than a functional loading rod. The actual ramrod would have been carried separately, often retained on a thong for mounted or maritime use.

The brass furniture retains an aged mellow tone, while the iron and steel components show a mixed gray brown patina with areas of oxidation, peppering, and staining. The stock remains visually strong and retains its carved and inlaid decoration well.

Overall, this is a highly decorative late 18th century Ottoman Balkan flintlock horse pistol with strong regional character, combining Western influenced form with extensive local carving, silver wire inlay, filigree, niello style ornament, and engraved metalwork. The worn barrel decoration, unreadable barrel marking, strong mainspring, faux ramrod, and age related metal patina are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an Ottoman arms, Balkan firearms, flintlock horse pistol, or late 18th century decorative weapons collection.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1790
Caliber: .63" pistol
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 14 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 22 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

The Kubur was a type of muzzleloading pistol produced and used throughout the Ottoman Empire. It is a general term, referring to a common form of holster pistol, though more specific types were often named for their region of manufacture or distinctive design features.

Design and features
Kubur pistols share a common overall form but exhibit significant regional variation in decoration, lock type, and stock design.

Action: The most common lock mechanism was the robust Miquelet lock, prized for its reliability. However, examples with conventional flintlock mechanisms and later percussion locks are also frequently encountered.
Stock: Stocks were typically made from walnut or other hardwoods and could be either partially or fully covered in metal, most often silver or brass, which was often intricately engraved or chiseled.
Barrel: Barrels were usually long, smoothbore imported from Italy, Germany, France but some were locally made.

Regional and typological variations
While "Kubur" serves as a general term, more specific names were often applied to denote a pistol's purported origin or distinctive style.

Regionally Named Types: Many pistols were named after the towns or regions they were associated with. Examples include the Skadarke (from Shkodër, modern Albania), the Pećanka (from Peć, modern Kosovo) etc.

Design-Based Types: Some varieties were named for their aesthetic characteristics. The Ledenica (meaning "icicle"), for instance, was a type stocked entirely in silver. Another distinct type, characterized by a "rat-tail" butt and a stock made of engraved brass, is primarily attributed to gunsmiths in central Albania, particularly the city of Elbasan.

Use
The Kubur was a ubiquitous sidearm across the Ottoman Empire for centuries carried by military officers, cavalrymen, militias, and civilians for personal protection. They were carried on horseback or on foot in holsters such as the multi-compartment Silahlik belts, purpose-made paired holsters known as kuburluk, single gun holsters, or sometimes stuffed into a sash. As a valuable personal item, it was often highly decorated, serving as a status symbol as well as a weapon.

By 1883, a flintlock/miquelet Kubur in Serbia cost 4 dinars, percussion pistols were 8-24 dinars, while revolvers cost 27-72 dinars. For comparison, a well-fed pig at that time was worth 24 dinars, while a teacher's monthly salary was 108 dinars.

Kubura Pećanka were carried by some of the leaders within Green Cadres during world war one although this was mostly symbolic.

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.