Miquelet Rifle

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is a late example of a traditional Turkish gun, distinguished by a miquelet lock, a hexagonal butt, a “ball” trigger without a trigger-guard, and a long barrel held by numerous bands. The barrel dates almost a century earlier and is inlaid in gold with a poem referring to the gun’s accuracy in the service of Islam. Elaborate guns of this type would have been reserved for hunting and target shooting.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art