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Lot 140

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AN EXTREMELY RARE OTTOMAN FLINTLOCK PISTOL

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Of robust construction, though intended for concealment. The brass frame engraved with stands of arms, the steel, center-hung cock and frizzen elegantly formed. With brass triggerguard, the curled trigger fitted with a return spring. A brass stock with engraved borders retains the round, stepped, 60 calibre steel barrel and ramrod. The butt in the form of a dagger hilt, wrought entirely of silver and deeply chiseled with polygonal cartouches containing floral sprays, assay-marked with the tugra of Sultan Abdulhamid I, (r. 1774-1789.) Third quarter of the 18th century. Concealed weapons were often relied upon to counter the intrigues of the Sublime Porte, where such pistols were worn by courtiers for protection against assassins. They were tucked in the sash, which was sufficiently wide to cover all but the butt of the pistol, thus giving the impression that the wearer was armed only with a dagger. Of outstanding quality for the type.Overall length 38.8 cm. Condition I

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