Bidspirit auction | 19th Century North African Miquelet-Lock

19th Century North African Miquelet-Lock Moukhala Rifle - A 19th-century North African miquelet-lock long-arm, traditionally known as a moukhala. This style of firearm is characteristic of the Maghreb region, particularly Morocco and Algeria. The weapon features a long, tapering smoothbore iron barrel secured to the stock by six brass barrel bands of varying widths, known as capucines. A steel ramrod is housed in a channel beneath the fore-end. It is fitted with a traditional miquelet-lock mechanism, distinguished by its external mainspring. The lock plate and hammer exhibit a dark patina and surface oxidation. The stock is crafted from dark-stained wood, featuring the extremely slender profile and sharply flared, triangular butt section typical of this ethnographic style. The furniture consists of a brass trigger guard and a heavy brass butt plate secured with pins. Three small circular stamped marks are present on the top of the barrel near the breech, though they are not clearly legible due to age and wear.