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Extraordinary Spanish Miquelet with Elaborate Inlaid Stock

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 15,000.00 USD
Extraordinary Spanish Miquelet with Elaborate Inlaid Stock
Possibly Spanish in origin, and made in the late Seventeenth Century, this extraordinary Miquelet features a 30" part octagon barrel with a flared muzzle measuring 1 1/8" diameter. The forward 3 7/8" of the muzzle are also fluted. The barrel features gold inlays covering much of the octagon portion and at the ends of the round portion. The top barrel flat is marked with a recessed relief marking in gold, which has three characters (possibly Arabic). The battery is very similar to the 17th Century Miquelet lock which has a removable face (dove tailed to the base) which has 6 channels at the point of contact with the flint. The hammer and flash pan base have gold inlays of simple designs. The trigger guard is iron, extends about 3 1/2" back of the trigger and is decorated with simple gold inlaid designs. The stock is heavily adorned with scrimshawed and carved ivory insets consisting of geometric and floral designs, and rope border. There is also a hunter on the right buttstock, the bust of an Arabian man on the underside of the forearm area and a serpent and lion on the left flat. The butt is uniquely rounded and it is flat on the top and bottom. The forend cap is carved ivory. Complete with an iron ramrod with flared tip.
BBL: 30 inch part octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 1 inch
Finish: bright
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Very fine. The metal surfaces have a smooth mottled gray patina. Most of the gold remains, some faded with age. The stock is also very fine with almost all of the ivory insets remaining, most of which is aging to an attractive mellow patina. The wood itself is very fine as well with a small hole behind the trigger guard and a few scattered minor dings and dents. The action is very tight, but appears to function properly. A heavily decorated Spanish Miquelet which was made for the elite Arabic trade.