{"product_id":"original-ottoman-empire-miquelet-lock-ornately-inlaid-shishana-rifle-with-ball-trigger-c-1750-1800","title":"Original Ottoman Empire Miquelet Lock Ornately Inlaid Shishana Rifle with Ball Trigger c.1750-1800","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirectly 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the Miquelet Lock:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYears of Manufacture: circa 1750-1800\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: approx .50 inches\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Lead Ball \u0026amp; Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 36 inches\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eOverall Length: 49 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Miquelet Lock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle-Loaded\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":29378519105605,"sku":"ONSV1647","price":2295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV1647__01.jpg?v=1596787667","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-ottoman-empire-miquelet-lock-ornately-inlaid-shishana-rifle-with-ball-trigger-c-1750-1800","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}