This antique Miquelet musket was likely made in the Balkan states, possibly Albania. These muskets are often very late period and similar locks were produced from the 1820's to well into the mid-1800's. This musket is offered as a very nice decorator. The bore is very dark and the stock does have some drying cracks from being stored in a very dry environment for a long time. The upper heel of the fish tail is worn and has some damage to the wrist. as the previous owner noted that he used play with this musket as a child and drag the musket around on the basement floor.

The .60 caliber smoothbore barrel is 54-1/2" overall length with a octagon-to-round profile. The bore is very dark and rough. The exterior of the barrel has aged to a gray brown patina. It has some engraved designs visible on the middle upper barrel. The breech end appears to be signed MAFI FRANZINI, which appears to be Italian. The rear sight is missing from the dovetail, and the barrel does not appear to have a front sight. The muzzle end has a cannon barrel design. The barrel is secured with five brass barrel bands. The one nearest the muzzle really blends into the patina on the barrel and the dark stock.

The stock is covered in steel sheet that has been secured with small brads. The steel sheeting has almost full coverage of hand engraved designs. The steel sheeting at the heel has been damaged from being drug on the floor. The steel sheeting on the wrist also displays some small kinks from being levered by the barrel. The triggerguard is iron, with a long thin rat tail grip rail that is just offset from the stock. The ramrod can be dismounted and is the correct length.

The Miquelet design is associated with locks of Mediterranean origins, most commonly Spain and Italy. The Miquelet locks have the mainspring mounted on the exterior of the lock. The frizzen has vertical grooves, which is common to those locks. The lock does not spark. The mainspring has a stylized bird engraved on the lower leg, indicating it could have possibly been produced at the Ragusa armoury.

A very nice looking decorator Miquolet musket with a Balkins influenced design. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.