CAUCASIEN
Caucasian Flintlock Pistol from the Mid-19th Century
Caucasian flintlock weapons are interesting because they exhibit distinctive
features and differ significantly from European firearm designs. These
differences are noticeable both when inspecting the exterior of rifles and
pistols and when studying the design features of their firing mechanisms.
Caucasian weapons used the so-called Mediterranean flintlock type, which had
several variations. Generally speaking, Turkey had a significant influence on
the design of Caucasian flintlock weapons.
Let us
examine the characteristics of Caucasian flintlock weapons using the example of
the Circassian pistol.
The
Circassian flintlock pistol with a miquelet lock consists of a barrel, a stock,
a flintlock, and a trigger mechanism. This pistol was manufactured between
approximately 1830 and 1860. Its barrel is round in cross-section. Its caliber
is 11 mm. The stock is made of wood and covered in black leather. Its forearm is
approximately 3 cm from the muzzle. At its base is a recess resembling the
entrance of a ramrod. However, a ramrod was not generally installed on these
weapons. This pistol does not have one either.
The
barrel is attached to the stock by three narrow steel rings (clips). It has no
sights.
Courtesy of "Pasiuta Andrei from HistoryPistols.ru" with my grateful thanks
