26 - Ottoman Empire, Algiers, Barbary pirates, sumptuous dignitary pistols.

Ottoman Empire, Algiers, Barbary pirates, sumptuous dignitary pistols. Flintlock pistols; one likely locally made, the other likely European. Flat, chiseled frames and swan-neck hammers. Barrels with firing grooves, one of which is chiseled with a foliage motif. Walnut stocks, all silver mountings. Wood decorated with inlays of silver fillets forming volutes. Cut silver leaves setting cabochon coral stones. Sticks are stored in tubes featuring alternating rudenté and faceted patterns. Quranic texts are present in inlays with silver fillets: One can read “AMAL,” meaning “work of … made by …,” followed by a name, likely “Belkassem,” and at the end of the phrase “el bey”—most likely a reference to the bey (ruler), specifically the one from Constantine given the date: the famous “Ahmed Bey,” who died in 1851. 1272 Hijri, or 1840. That is, ten years after the start of France’s colonization of Algeria. These pistols can therefore be attributed to a high-ranking officer from Constantine—who would take longer to be defeated—or to a member of Emir Abdel Kader’s smala. Pear-shaped barrels with long ears, one of which is locally stamped. In good mechanical condition; the first and second notches are marked. Total lengths: 53 and 55 cm. Ottoman Empire, Barbary States, present-day Algeria, late 19th century. Category D firearms.