Original item: One of a kind. This is a fantastic display piece! It is truly a work of art, as much as it is a weapon. A huge amount of time was put into producing this piece, with all the various inlays and artistry. In the 17th Century the Ottoman Empire really dominated the Middle East and became a real threat to Europe. In the 1680s they laid siege to Vienna, which certainly attracted the attention of all the Western European monarchies.

By the end of the 19th Century they controlled most of the Middle East and North Africa including Egypt and further west. They were sophisticated and well organised and came to grief only by taking sides with the Central Powers of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the First World War.

Here we offer a Classic, high quality, Ottoman Migulet Rifle known as a "SHISHANA," dating probably the mid to late 18th century. It features a very attractive 36" Damascus Steel barrel, that has a heavily rifled bore of about .50 inches. The wood butt stock is heavily inlaid horn embossed panels and beautiful brass circular engraved inlays that also run up the entire fore stock under the barrel. The trigger itself is a small iron ball and this style of rifle never had a trigger guard.

Directly in front of the trigger an Imperial RUSSIAN copper coin has been inlaid depicting the Imperial Russian Double headed eagle over the date of 1829. Tradition has it that the Coin represents the ancient Greek Myth that requires the dead to pay the boatman, Kharon, to ferry them across the River STYX into Hades and the afterlife. Many people of that era were buried with a Coin in their mouths for this very purpose. A fighting Warrior carried his "passage" attached to his weapon not knowing when his time might come and the crossing fare needed.

This Shishana has a rear sight with a flip up leaf for longer distances, and a nice copper front sight. The Miquelet lock itself is small, one would think almost for a pistol, but this is absolutely correct. It is quite old, and unfortunately does not quite function correctly.

The fancy wood Stock shows much grain figuring throughout, almost to the level of burl. The butt end is classically "five sided" with inlaid intricate brass decorations. The trigger plate is of bone, the trigger itself is a small iron ball and this style of rifle never had a trigger guard.

This is a really nice Ottoman "SHISHANA" gun dating from the late 18th Century with the addition of an Imperial Russian Copper Coin, possibly a Two Kopek piece. Measuring 49" in overall length, this really is very well constructed and shows real quality. Ready to display!

History of the Miquelet Lock:
Miquelet lock is a modern term used by collectors and curators, largely in the English-speaking world, for a type of firing mechanism used in muskets and pistols. It is a distinctive form of snaplock, originally as a flint-against-steel ignition form, once prevalent in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Balkans, North Africa, Ottoman Empire and throughout Spain's colonies from the late 16th to the mid 19th centuries.

The term miquelet lock was not recorded until the 19th century, long after the appearance of the mechanism in the 16th century, and is of uncertain origin. One commonly held view is that it was coined by British troops in the Peninsular War to describe the style of musket used by the Miquelet (militia) that had been assigned to the Peninsular Army of the Duke of Wellington.

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: circa 1750-1800
Caliber: approx .50 inches
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 36 inches
Overall Length: 49 inches
Action: Miquelet Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.

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 posses, 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. They are sold as collector’s items or as wall hangers. 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.