“Tamancha” Southern India Circa 1820-1830. Indian pistols are rare and are usually found in combination weapons such as pistol/knife combo or pistol /axe combo. The locks are usually foreign (as is the one) while the rest of the pistol is all Indian work. Bore is .60 caliber. Note: A side view would lead one think of a Blunderbus type flared barrel. The barrel is flared with the stock but the bore is .60 caliber. The stock has hundreds of silver pin decorative inlays. The back of the grip is a brass band accent with four raised flower details held in place with silver pins. The barrel is 11 ½” long and engraved with floral designs near the muzzle and cross hatch and shaded work to simulated vines. The overall pistol is 19” long. The lock has floral and leaf engraving. We have handled many unusual guns from the Balkans, Magrib, Caucasus and others of Ottoman influence but this is the first Indian Tamancha! Several are pictured in Tony Tirris’ very fine book Islamic Weapons on page 265.