Greece, Revolution, and the Kariophili

Rebellious Greeks designed their Kariophili muskets as an act of subversion and resistance to their Ottoman rulers. Ottoman law prohibited Greek manufacture or ownership of firearms. It also prohibited wearing anything ornate or fancy, meaning Greeks could only wear drab, plain clothing. When the Greeks started an armed rebellion in the 1820s, they brought their suppressed culture to the forefront by creating and using ornate weapons and wearing colorful clothing. Look closely at this Kariophili to see ornate Greek design.

Take a look at the gold and silver gilding on the barrel. Greek gunsmiths either imported new barrels or reused old ones. They then added their personal touch with precious metals. Finished firearms were then sold around the Mediterranean or, during the Greek Revolution, used against the Ottomans.

Looking closely at the silver plating on the stock reveals traditional Greek art patterns of the time. Look for flowers and birds especially. Greeks showed off their culture through this decoration. It was an act of rebellion, even before the actual fighting began.

Greeks imported locks as well as barrels. Lock construction was laborious and required expert knowledge. Greek manufacure of locks and barrels might have encouraged the Ottomans to strictly enforce the laws prohibiting Greek manufacture and ownership of firearms.

Notice how the stock is shaped like a fish's tail. It is called a Rasak stock. The Greeks carved their own stocks, often out of Chestnut wood, and then fitted the locks and barrels they decorated onto them. They then decorated the stocks with silver and brass finishings.

Kariophilis may have been ornate as a statement of rebellion, but they also were designed with some practical application. They were shorter, smaller, and lighter than most military muskets, which made them perfect for use in Greek hillsides. This shows the influence of both culture and geography on weapons.

Flames and smoke shoot out of the muzzle when a Kariophili is fired. That prompted a craftsman to create this dragon's head muzzle and gild it with gold. Foreign financiers of the Greek rebels thought the ornate Kariophilis a waste of money, but to the Greeks, the expression of freedom was worth the cost.