Rare Indian Gurz or Gurj Mace weapon with gun barrel

A very interesting North Indian Mace Gurj or Garz of solid iron with a fireable barrel forming the macehead. The iron shaft fitted with a simple but sturdy iron handguard with geometric chiselled decoration along the edges. The mace head formed from a short stout hollow iron barrel with a small firing pan to one side by a firing hole, remnants of gunpowder residue confirm that this weapon has been used many many times during its long lifetime. This is an early weapon and retains an attractive dark iron patination throughout, dating from between the 17th and 18th centuries. An individual and charismatic weapon. Indian maces are most commonly of the flanged western-style form, but occasionally veer off into combination weapons in a manner unique to the subcontinent. indo persian