-
This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.
Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades -
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
Need help IDing an early flintlock pistol
- Thread starter HandyAndy
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
- Joined
- May 24, 2005
- Messages
- 4,959
- Reaction score
- 4,326
Hi Handy
The pistol in the photos is commonly referred to by collectors as an Albanian Rat Tail Pistol. While it may look strange for Western tastes, there were many of these made, especially during the first half of the 19th Century. The one in your photos is very common. Probably made at one of the many gun making centers in the Balkans. It appears to be in about average condition. The lock is a very common variety of Balkan miquelet. It's one of the few locally made (non-imported) locks that was designed well and used on many different guns during the period. That the flintlock continued in use in this Region through at least the 3rd Quarter of the 19th Century is the likely reason there are so many of these pistols still available today.
For comparison, here is a trio of Albanian pistols, including a rat tail. Also, a famous 20th Century warrior who carries one. LOL
Rick
The pistol in the photos is commonly referred to by collectors as an Albanian Rat Tail Pistol. While it may look strange for Western tastes, there were many of these made, especially during the first half of the 19th Century. The one in your photos is very common. Probably made at one of the many gun making centers in the Balkans. It appears to be in about average condition. The lock is a very common variety of Balkan miquelet. It's one of the few locally made (non-imported) locks that was designed well and used on many different guns during the period. That the flintlock continued in use in this Region through at least the 3rd Quarter of the 19th Century is the likely reason there are so many of these pistols still available today.
For comparison, here is a trio of Albanian pistols, including a rat tail. Also, a famous 20th Century warrior who carries one. LOL
Rick
user 48679
54 Cal.
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2020
- Messages
- 1,661
- Reaction score
- 2,156
IMO ? The value is what someone who wants one will pay.
The value is undetermined due to very few potential buyers out there for one.
If you google "rat tail flintlock pistol for sale", you'll see a few that have sold in the $800 (+/-) range - but they were pristine examples.
The value is undetermined due to very few potential buyers out there for one.
If you google "rat tail flintlock pistol for sale", you'll see a few that have sold in the $800 (+/-) range - but they were pristine examples.
- Joined
- May 24, 2005
- Messages
- 4,959
- Reaction score
- 4,326
There are many on the market for sale. But they are usually over-priced and just sit. Likely because the seller doesn't really know what they have and figures it's unique and somewhat rare.
The one in your photos appears to be complete. Just looks like it needs a general cleaning. If the lock is in working order, a fair price might be in the $300-350.00 range.
Rick
- Joined
- May 24, 2005
- Messages
- 4,959
- Reaction score
- 4,326
Pietro is correct.
Most collectors of Eastern arms are into the blades and armor. And the blades can bring far higher prices than their European and North American equals. The firearms have always been treated as an after thought. The collector market for these guns is so small that I can remember back as late as the 1980's that dealers in antique guns would only accept them on a consignment basis. The combination of the small collector market and the large quantity of guns still available, are the likely reasons their pricing/value have never caught up with their European and North American counterparts. There simply is not the volumn of collectors. Of course, like everything else, there are always exceptions (like Caucasian guns). But that is still the general situation today.
Interesting note: About a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union, wealthy Russians, Ukrainians, etc. have been bidding up and buying back certain types of Eastern guns. Thus, the market expands and prices rise.
Rick
