Central Asia, southern India, Mughal Period, ca. 1765 CE. A beautiful hand-crafted wood and steel jezail rifle of a characteristically-elongated form. The lengthy steel barrel tapers gently to a flared firing end, has a petite flash pan next to the pronged matchlock mechanism, and is attached to the rifle body with six thin hammered-steel strips. The slender fore-stock and thick back stock are carved from gorgeous caramel-hued walnut wood, with a long groove which houses the barrel as well as a lengthy ramrod. A thin grooved trigger projects from the bottom of the back stock and is connected to the matchlock mechanism housed within a slot in the sight block, with the interior components secured with a few steel pins. The barrel is stamped with "JPR/EXR/2/5627" just above the flash pan, and the back stock has the manufacturing date "1765" stamped onto one side. A fantastic and finely-crafted rifle! Size: 89.25" L (226.7 cm).

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133456

Losses to portions of wooden components along fore-stock and near firing components. Repair to area of pronged matchlock arm. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, tarnishing to steel components, loosening to hammered-steel strips and sight block, otherwise very good. Light earthen deposits within recessed areas and lustrous brown patina on wooden components.