Original Item. One of a Kind. Here we have a very nice Greek Kariophili or Rasak flintlock musket, which has a design somewhat reminiscent of the "Jezail" guns used in North Africa. This is not really surprising, given how Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries, and the Jezail was popular throughout many areas. The Kariophili is definitely shorter and more robustly built, and often were made using flintlock mechanisms from the western part of Europe.

This particular example looks to have had a long history, and is now quite ornate, having had engraved and embossed silver inlays and cladding added to various parts of the musket. This looks to have been put over previously existing carved engraving, which is somewhat typical as these were kept in service for quite a long period of time. It now has the muzzle back to the barrel wedge completely clad, and also the area around the lock and trigger guard is mostly clad as well. A very high level of artistry and work went onto creating this.

The left side of the stock actually has an inscription in Greek in the silver inlay, which we have not been able to transcribe, except for the year 1869. This was the last year of the Cretan Uprising of 1866-1869, one of the major uprisings prior to the Cretan Revolt of 1897–1898, which finally led to independence from the Ottoman Empire. We assume that the message states something regarding this uprising. Definitely a great translation project for someone who reads Greek script!

Overall the Kariophili is in lovely condition, showing no major damage or other issues, and having a lovely patina of age. The lock is functional, but the mainspring quite week, so it does not really "fire" well. The silver cladding is in lovely condition, showing just a bit of oxidation and patination in areas.

Really a lovely piece, the first that we have ever had. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: circa 1800-1840
Barrel Length: 25"
Bore Diameter: Swamped Barrel - 0.63" close to muzzle
Ammunition Type: Lead Shot & Powder
Overall Length: 38 1/2 Inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

The Cretan revolt of 1866–1869 (Κρητική Επανάσταση του 1866) or Great Cretan Revolution (Μεγάλη Κρητική Επανάσταση) was a three-year uprising in Crete against Ottoman rule, the third and largest in a series of Cretan revolts between the end of the Greek War of Independence in 1830 and the establishment of the independent Cretan State in 1898.

The Christian Cretans had risen up together with the rest of Greece in the Greek Revolution of 1821, but despite successes in the countryside, the Ottomans held out in the four fortified towns of the northern coast (Chania, Rethymno, Irakleio and Agios Nikolaos) and the island was eventually reconquered by 1828, becoming an Egyptian province (Muhammad Ali's Egypt, though nominally a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, was a regional power in its own right). In 1840, Crete was returned to direct Ottoman rule, followed by an unsuccessful 1841 uprising in support of Union with independent Greece. Another uprising in 1858 secured some privileges, such as the right to bear arms, equality of Christian and Muslim worship, and the establishment of Christian councils of elders with jurisdiction over education and customary and family law. These concessions were resented by the Cretan Muslims, though Christians pressed for more, while maintaining their ultimate aim of union with Greece.