help identifying an older rifle?

[pbrowning]

I was at an estate sale this weekend and the gentleman was a collector of older flintlocks and percussion cap rifles and pistols. I was wondering if anyone could help me identify this rifle or point me in the right direction.

Its about 5'5" long, and the bands holding the barrel to the stock are very thin and old copper. To long to get it in 1 good shot, sorry im not a good photographer and my camera is a bit out of date.

 

[pbrowning]

Few more pics of it.

 

[silverfox]

My guess would be Arabian or north African 1750 to 1800 but it's just a guess.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[Okwaho]

The what is easy.It's a snaphaunce gun in it's original condition.The age and origin are a little fuzzy.If I had to hazard a guess,I would think North African or somewhere in the Mediterranean area. The date of origin is where it really gets sticky.Guns of this general type were used as late as the late 19th century and beyond. They were also turned out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for the tourist trade with many having elaborate shell inlays and engraved copper and brass mounts. The butt architecture is reminiscent of early 17th century English snaphaunces and there are several American guns from that period with similar architecture.The problem here,however, is that such guns were almost always converted to English locks.As I said,I suspect,however,that this gun is from the Mediterranean area and North Africa in particular.A test of the wood would confirm its area of origin.
Tom Patton

 

[George Holton]

In the old days they were redily available and known as camel rifles. see Lawrence of Arabia.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I think it is of North African origin, and most likely Morroccan. Some of these guns are works of art and very well made. They hung on well into the 20th century and, for all I know, they may still be making them.

 

[bovey]

Browsed through my library and based on the architecture of the piece it looks definitely Moroccan. It is rather plain looking as many examples are highly decorated. As Tom pointed out, this may well have been made for the tourist trade. My source was "Firearms Of The Islamic World", by Robert Elgood. A good reference book.
Warren Bovey