Rare Mongolian Rifle - Himalayan Regions, Mongolia, 18th-20th Century

Rare Mongolian rifle - Himalayan regions, Mongolia, 18th-20th centuryRifle with a miquelet lock. A special trigger system found particularly in Mongolia but also in certain Himalayan regions and as far as Siberia. This rifle was equipped with a bipod fork, but this has unfortunately disappeared. Barrel probably of Persian manufacture from the 18th century. Barrel with sides featuring silver damascene decorations and slightly blunderbussed towards the muzzle. Two chiseled silver elements for attaching the strap. This type of rifle was passed down from generation to generation until recent times. It therefore presents old and more recent restorations and additions. Total length 131cm Barrel length 87.5cm For a similar but shorter and much more rustic example see the Metropolitan Museum, inventory number 2005.34https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27698