This Fine rifle employ an old 17 (?) C. barrel forged from twisted steel. The heavy barrel, 47 inches long is marked with a deep maker sign and richly decorated with true gold inlay work. The inscription in Arabic letters is Farsi and reads: In Tofang Bande-ye Morad Ali Taler Nazr Hazrat-e Emam Mohammad Mehdi, Saheb al Asr va Zaman Salatollah Alleh Namud and in free translation: This gun is the slave of Morad Ali Taler dedicated to the august Imam of the time, Mohammad Mehdi. The Owner of the time and period and greetings to him (refers to the 12 Imam of Shiites). Some time in the 19 C. The barrel was converted to a percussion lock and mounted on a new stock with beautifully chases silver bands. The new lock is of Indian origin and marked: GUZERATT IRREGULAR HORSE . Total length inches. Very good condition. Lock in working condition. Very fine age patina on the barrel. The patina was removed in one small area below the ramrod just to see the twisted pattern of the steel. Age cracks in the wood stock but it holds very solid.