Bought by my father in a Athens market in 1949/1950. Very good condition, trigger still works. Obviously handmade, brass fittings, smooth barrel
12 inch barrel, 7 inch grip
Bought in Athens, Greece, right after the civil war, from a vendor there.
Dear Mark,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
The presented object appears to be an Ottoman or Ottoman area flintlock pistol with a barrel length of 12 inches. The nut wood stock is decorated with a tendril decor and has brass appliques. The barrel is decorated with engravings. On top of the barrel appears to be an inscription in Arabic letters. Sadly the image is blurred. Nevertheless, for example, the carved tedril decor of the stock suggests that this pistol was made in the hemisphere of the Ottoman Empire in the late 18th or first half of the 19th century. Greece was a part of the Ottoman Empire until the Greek War of Independence 1821-1829 and Ottoman weapons and weapon parts were used in this area. It is also possible that this pistol was assembled and used in the Balkan area. But usually, these Balkan pistols are more decorated than this piece.
Comparable objects were recently offered and sold on the international auction market.
This piece is in medium condition and no severe damage is visible in the images provided.
A fair market estimation would be between 300 to 600 USD.
This estimate is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparable items. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and may vary.
With kind regards,
George