Very Fine And Exceptionally Elaborate Silver Decorated Ottoman Migulet Tufenk Rifle Circa 1820

A Very Fine And Exceptionally Elaborate Silver Decorated Ottoman Migulet Tufenk Rifle Circa 1820.  With Superb Late 17th Century Silver Encrusted Damascus Barrel With Five Aperture High Rear Sight. 35 inch octagonal barrel, 52 caliber deeply rifled. The lovely patterned Damascus barrel is encrusted with relief heavy silver for 5 and 3/4’s of its breech with flowers and scrolling foliage and a gold Arabic maker’s sink which remains legible within. The muzzle with a 5 and 1/4 panel of relief silver ensuite with breech and a copper front sight. 

The high rear sight with five peep holes is decorated with silver stars and is in the classic Ottoman shape.The breech tang is encrusted with relief silver ensuite.

The migulet lock is decorated with silver and a maker’s punch below the mainspring. The hammer is heavily inlaid with silver as is the frizzen. The silver strap is stuck with an Ottoman tughra.

The splendidly figured Circassian walnut fullstock is inlaid throughout the butt with engraved silver panels in the Ottoman style and a sunken poincon in gold most likely the silversmith or the inlayer. Additionally there are three large Arabic characters in a silver oval.

The mechanism functions properly and the bore is fine with remarkably sharp rifling.

48 and 1/2 inches overall.

This is a very lovely and potentially important Ottoman rifle.