Flintlock blunderbuss information - identification/value

[FCFA102]

I have a customer who brought this to me in hopes of having his blunderbuss appraised for insurance purposes. This is outside of my wheel house so I'm hoping to find some help here. I have attached photos, but if there's anything I've left out please let me know and I can get any pictures that may help.

I realized I have put this the wrong section, sorry. Please move if need be.

Thanks!!

 

[FCFA102]

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Middle Eastern. Collectors have become interested in these in the past decade. Figure 1500 for insurance purposes.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

RiskyStl should also be able to provide input.

 

[rickystl]

Agree with Poster #3 above. Judging by recent auction house pricing in recent years, they have indeed become more popular with collectors. If complete, and in good condition, which this one appears to be, they are easily fetching $1,000.00++ at auctions. So the $1,500.00 estimate should be accurate.

Referred to by collectors as an Ottoman "knee" pistol or "Dag" pistol. While this style of pistol likely originated some where in Europe, it never caught on. But it was very popular throughout many areas of the Ottoman Empire, and continued in use for a long time.

The barrel and lock (and possibly the trigger guard) on this example appear to be European exports. With the entire gun being assembled and decorated locally at one of the many gun shops in the Balkans to suite local taste. And the maker's mark(s) on the lock plate appear genuine.

A nice, original piece. And worthy of a collection.

Rick