Any linguists out there?

[Auldjin]

This is a "knee blunderbuss" that is in need of some attention. Such pieces are usually just described as "Ottoman". The engraving on the lock is not Turkish (old or new). It bears some resemblance to Cyrillic but is not Russian (old or new). Can anyone identify it?

 

[rickystl]

Hello

I can't help with the translation, but with your permission I will send the lock photo to others that may be able to help.

Rick

 

[Rudyard]

Your pistol dos'e strongly suggest its not just a jumble of letters that might pass for an illiterate in European writing takeing it for European work & looks a nice pistol .Good luck with your quest
Regards Rudyard

 

[Auldjin]

Hello

I can't help with the translation, but with your permission I will send the lock photo to others that may be able to help.

Rick

Please do, I look forward to learning something.

 

[Whitworth]

Looks Greek to me for some reason, seriously.

 

[andy52]

Possibly Berber or a variant there of. Like in the barbary pirates'.

 

[Sam squanch]

It says- “ property of Sam squanch, please return “. could it be some variation of the Russian language, maybe a dead language now?

 

[Musketeer]

From the length of pull on that gun, I'd assume it's Hobbitish...

 

[TFoley]

Please pull back the **** all the way so's we can see the first 'letter'.

 

[Auldjin]

Your wish is my command!

While I was at it I thought I ought to show a close up of the barrel.

 

[Musketeer]

The closest I could find in a search of languages of the region is Bulgarian. The characters look close, though not exact, but it could be the characters on this gun are just highly stylized (much like the "Gothic" English font). I may be wrong, but it could be something to look into.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

и краткое і десятеричное ша и краткое

 

[TFoley]

I think it's Ukrainian/Serbian, but it makes no sense....

 

[rickystl]

Here are a couple responses I received which mostly confirm my own thinking. I'll elaborate further on the next post.

"The only letter that is distinguishably Cyrillic is the backward N which is equivalent to the Latin I. The lower case i and o are common to Greek and Latin miniscule."

"Hi Rick,

I'm afraid to say that is the usual nonsense . gibberish, seen on many Eastern locks."

 

[TFoley]

и краткое і десятеричное ша и краткое

Where did THAT come from? It makes no sense.

 

[Sam squanch]

It may mean something perverted.....

 

[Tom A Hawk]

Where did THAT come from? It makes no sense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_alphabet

 

[TFoley]

It reads, in Ukrainian - [and] multiple and tenth sha and multiple

Where did THAT come from, please?

 

[Zonie]

TO ALL:

This area of the forum is for serious study and discussion. Please do not make "funny" posts here.

Thank You.

 

[Musketeer]

Here are a couple responses I received which mostly confirm my own thinking. I'll elaborate further on the next post.

"The only letter that is distinguishably Cyrillic is the backward N which is equivalent to the Latin I. The lower case i and o are common to Greek and Latin miniscule."

"Hi Rick,

I'm afraid to say that is the usual nonsense . gibberish, seen on many Eastern locks."

Interesting. I wonder what the purpose of such gibberish was? It's like one of us putting something like "XZikYb" on the lock of a gun we'd built. What purpose would that serve, other than to have something inscribed on the lock? Was it some kind of regional stylistic "thing" at the time perhaps? An attempt to conceal the guns true origin? Something else?