Need Info on this rifle please!

austinuspc45

Hello, I am from Austin, Texas and have been using the GunBroker auction site for years now and just discovered that the forums may be the key to some information that I have been seeking concerning what I believe to be an antique firearm.

I acquired this old percussion firearms from my father about 10 or so years ago and it has just sat in my safe ever since. I don't have a clue of what it really is and was hoping that someone on this forum could help shed some light on its identity. It just has a few marking such as some perhaps middle eastern or indian characters carved in the stock and what looks like a rising sun or all seeing eye on part of the receiver.

Thanks so much for a great forum!

Any history or information would be greatly appreciated!
Best,
Austinuspc45

rufe-snow

Looks like a percussion shotgun to me. It appears to have been purposely made as a shotgun, not converted from any sort of muzzle loading military musket. The stock,forend & wrist dimensions on a muzzle loading musket. Are much more robust, to make them soldier proof.

Given the almost relic condition it's in, value would be minimal,IMHO.

lcdrdanr

I think the marking on the stock are Siamese, I have seen similar on Siamese Bayonets as serial numbers. I think the eye is a good luck symbol, all seeing eye, something like that, which could have been added after manufacture.

Dan R

nmyers

Likely made in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, which includes parts of 8 countries. I would think mid to late 1800's.

I would not keep it in my safe, unless I had a lot of room there. It would be considered a "decorator".

Neal

hrf

I agree with Dan R. Was your father ever in Southeast Asia?

It looks very much like a handmade musket I brought back from Thailand in 1969, that had a similar inscription stamped into the stock, and was probably made in 20th century.

Make a tracing and take it to your local Thai restaurant, and report results to satisfy my curiosity.

The inscription on mine translated to Khon Kaen, a northern city, maybe a registration of some kind.

austinuspc45

So the consensus is that this may be a thai percussion shotgun? Thanks everyone for your informative posts!