An Ottoman miquelet lock rifle with the tughra of Mahmud II (r. 1808-39), Turkey, early 19th century

Although the tughra of Mahmud II gives a useful terminus post quem for the rifle as a complete object, during the early nineteenth century luxurious firearms were frequently assembled from multiple older components, and the barrel and stock may date from as early as the middle of the seventeenth century. For example, a miquelet lock rifle in the Metropolitan Museum of Art consists of a stock closely comparable to that on the present rifle fitted with a barrel dated 1151 AH/1738-39 AD and a lock dated 1240 AH/1824-25 AD.

A miquelet lock rifle of closely comparable construction and decoration and dated 1212 AH/1797-98 AD was sold in these rooms, 7 October 2009, lot 183. Two other related rifles attributed to the eighteenth century were sold in these rooms, 29 April 2025, lot 98 and Christie’s London, 7 April 2011, lot 366.