361 |
A FINE GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE, SIGNED BY THE STOCKMAKER WB, DATED 1591 with octagonal swamped sighted barrel rifled with seven grooves, stamped with the barrelsmith's mark (perhaps Neue Støckel 8474) and chiselled with a band of beadwork over the breech, flat lock with later engraving, fitted with external wheel, sliding pan-cover with button release, flash-guard and pierced dog, figured fruitwood full stock profusely inlaid with staghorn plaques including elaborate hunting scenes on each side of the fore-end, Leda and the Swan, an amourous couple above the inscription ' wald dich mein, ich frei mich deim' and the initials 'W.B.' opposite the lock, Adam waking after the creation of Eve within a strapwork cartouche on the cheek-piece, accompanied by various animals including a washing cat and a monkey playing the bag-pipes, a bear roasting a wurst on the spine of the butt, and a bear hunting scene above an inscription including the date behind the lock, the principle scenes annotated in Latin and German, all within segmental lines and enriched with staghorn pellets, the barrel tang, trigger-plate and butt all with strapwork borders, the butt with sliding patchbox-cover overlaid with a piece of staghorn engraved en suite (worn), engraved horn butt-plate, ramrod-pipe and fore-end cap, steel trigger-guard engraved with a squirrel (probably later) and shaped for the fingers, and associated horn-tipped wooden ramrod (minor restorations, the engraving worn in places, heavily varnished throughout) 82cm; 32 1/4in barrel £7000-9000 | Nil |
|
10000 |
| 362 | A GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING CARBINE STOCKED IN THE MANNER OF THE SO-CALLED MASTER OF THE CASTLES, CIRCA 1600, PROBABLY NUREMBERG with octagonal swamped sighted barrel stamped with the maker's initials 'H. W.' (Neue Støckel 3167) over the breech, plain flat lock fitted with external wheel retained by a later pierced bracket, sliding pan-cover, and engraved dog (the upper portion of the dog and the pan-cover release missing), hardwood full stock veneered with ebony profusely inlaid with engraved mother-of-pearl plaques including hunters and hounds pursuing game over the fore-end, a mounted cavalryman opposite the lock,and a castle on each side of the lock, raised cheek-piece decorated with a stag set upon by a hound and two hunters, all within staghorn segmental lines and enriched with bone and green-stained horn pellets, steel trigger-guard shaped for the fingers, and later patchbox-cover (worn, restorations, heavily varnished throughout) 60.2cm;23 3/4in barrel A number of firearms stocked in this manner are stamped with Nuremberg town marks which would suggest their production in a large workshop in that town. See C. Blair 1974, pp. 320-22 and J. F. Hayward 1962, p. 162. A carbine with notably similar inlay to the present example is preserved in the Bayerischen National Museum inv. nr. W628. See E. Schalkhau1988 pp.30-31. £4000-5000 | Nil |
|
4500 |
| 363 | A GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK RIFLED SPORTING CARBINE, CIRCA 1660 with octagonal swamped sighted barrel rifled with six grooves, stamped with the barrelsmith's initials, 'L D' (Neue Støckel 3752) over the breech and grooved for sighting, plain lock engraved with a bouquet of fruit on the tail (refreshed), fitted with external wheel retained by an engraved gilt-brass cover, sliding pan-cover with gilt-brass button release chiselled with flowers and a heart, engraved pierced dog, double set trigger, fruitwood full stock carved with panels of foliage behind the tang, over the butt and behind the rear ramrod-pipe, inlaid with engraved staghorn plaques including addorsed marine monsters and pairs of running hounds all within segmental lines, horn butt-plate, sliding patchbox cover veneered with engraved staghorn, steel trigger-guard shaped for the fingers, and engraved staghorn fore-end cap (later ramrod, the steel parts cleaned, heavily varnished throughout) 66.5cm; 26 1/4in barrel £3500-4500 | Nil |
|
3500 |
| 364 | A GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING GUN, EARLY 17TH CENTURY converted for use as a trap or alarm gun, with cut-down octagonal barrel, engraved flat lock decorated with a doe and a stag pursued by a hound, fitted with internal wheel, engraved raised wheel-cover, sliding pan-cover, engraved pierced dog and flash-guard, double-ended trigger protruding from above and beneath the spine of the butt, figured walnut full stock (cracks and repairs), carved with scrolling tendrils in relief about the barrel tang, and in front of the lock, sliding patchbox-cover carved with scrolling foliage and a grotesque mask (chipped), and fitted with a ring for securing ring at the base 48.2cm; 19in barrel £1500-2000 | Nil |
|
1400 |
| 365 | A GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE, 17TH CENTURY converted for use as a trap or alarm gun, with cut-down octagonal barrel stamped with the barrelsmith's marks at the breech, flat lock engraved with a pair of cavalry officers in contemporary dress before a city, later hardwood full stock, and later steel mounts of rudimentary construction 33cm; 13in £1200-1800 | Nil |
|
|
| 366 | A NORTH GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE (MÜLLERBÜCHSE) BY NICOLAUS COERS, BRAUNSWEIG, CIRCA 1680 with octagonal sighted shortened barrel rifled with seven narrow grooves, stamped with the letters 'NK' over the breech, signed rounded lock fitted with internal wheel, sliding pan-cover with button release and moulded dog, figured walnut full stock carved with a raised moulding and foliage behind the barrel tang, scrolls over the breech and fluted over the butt, the latter with raised cheek-piece on the left and fitted with carved sliding patchbox-cover on the right, steel mounts comprising scrolling side-plate, trigger-guard with a bulbous finial at each end, butt-plate with slender tang and moulded ramrod-pipe, and associated horn-tipped wooden ramrod 41.2cm; 16 1/8in barrel The maker is presumably Niklaus Cordes (also recorded as Kors and Curdes) active in Brunswick circa 1684. £2500-3000 | Nil |
|
|
| 367 | A SOUTH GERMAN PERCUSSION OVER-AND-UNDER SPORTING GUN BY F. HONOLD A ULM, CIRCA 1800 converted from flintlock, with two-stage tapering barrels, the upper fitted with silver 'Spider' fore-sight and signed in silver over the breech, border-engraved locks fitted with gravity stops, figured walnut half-stock inlaid with pierced bone plaques of shaped outline, chequered fore-end and grip each studded with numerous silver nails, the butt inlaid with silver wire filigree on both sides, the left with raised cheek-piece and the right inlaid with a star in contrasting pieces of horn and mother-of-pearl, wooden trigger-guard studded with silver nails, and horn fore-end cap (worn, ramrod missing) 81.7cm; 32 1/4in barrels £2500-3500 | Nil |
|
|
| 368 | A PAIR OF GERMAN FLINTLOCK WENDER PISTOLS, LATE 17TH CENTURY two-stage sighted barrels inscribed 'Lazaro Lazarino' over the breeches and with grooved brass mouldings forming the back-sights, the breeches faced with brass plates, rounded locks stamped 'W. A. V. H. B.' and incised with a scroll of foliage (one cock replaced), figured walnut full stocks carved with raised mouldings of the fore-ends, about the barrel tangs and opposite the locks, plain brass mounts comprising flush-fitting scrolling side-plates, trigger-guards incorporating lever releases at the front for the barrels, spurred pommels, and each with a single moulded ramrod-pipes (the steel parts chemically cleaned, one stock a working replacement, ramrods missing, heavily varnished throughout) 52.2cm; 20 5/8in (2) £3000-4000 | Nil |
|
3000 |
| 369 | A PAIR OF GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK PUFFER PISTOLS, DATED 1586, PERHAPS AUGSBURG with swamped barrels formed in two stages, engraved with foliage on the medians, the date and stamped with two marks on the breeches (one possibly Augsburg, the other Neue Støckel 8447, each rubbed), flat locks fitted with internal wheels, raised wheel-covers, sliding pan-covers with button releases, safety-catches and later dogs, fruitwood full stocks profusely inlaid in engraved staghorn with scrolling ball flower tendrils inhabited by marine monsters on the fore-ends and grotesques beneath, male and female demi-figures drawn by a pair of hippocamps opposite the respective locks, the butts inlaid with grotesques about the barrel tangs and the standing figure of Eve in differing attitudes on the spines, all within segmental lines, spherical pommels decorated en suite including differing grotesque masks divided by strapwork plaques, fitted with circular plaques decorated with cavalrymen on the base, and moulded steel trigger-guards (the steel parts heavily cleaned with chemicals, the stocks with filled worm damage, heavily varnished throughout, ramrods missing) 49.8cm; 19 5/8in (2) £14000-18000 | Nil |
|
|
| 370 | A VERY FINE AND RARE SOUTH GERMAN OVER-AND-UNDER SINGLE TRIGGER LONG WHEEL-LOCK PISTOL FORMED ENTIRELY OF STEEL, CIRCA 1570-80 with slender tapering octagonal barrels fluted over the forward half on each side, the upper with brass bead fore-sight, fixed back-sight, and retaining traces of Augsburg town mark over the breech (the breech and muzzle retaining screws missing), flat lock retained by three screws, fitted with a pair of external wheels each retained by a steel bracket pierced with a trefoil beneath, with gilt-brass wheel-covers finely pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage and differing flowers, sliding pan-covers with fluted button releases, pierced dogs engraved with serpent heads, pivoting sprung rear safety-catch (the forward safety missing), the interior mechanism with delicately filed bars and retaining some early blued finish, steel full stock with simple scroll mouldings opposite the lock, 'fishtail' butt with cavity for pyrites and sprung cap, moulded grip, trigger-guard with foliate finial front and rear, and original steel ramrod with moulded finial and worm 79.2cm; 31 1/4in This pistol forms part of a group of decorated South German over-and-under wheel-lock pistols stocked entirely in steel. Other examples are preserved in the Musée de l'Armée, Paris (inv. no. m.1625, 1634 and 1635), in the Collection of the Princes Odescalchi, Rome (inv. no. 1513), and in the Royal Armouries, Turin (cat. no. 328). The example in Turin and one of those in Paris (inv. No. 1635) are of particular interest as they are also stamped with the Augsburg town mark. The Paris pistol is also stamped with a maker's mark which maybe attributed to Alexander Beck who is recorded active in Augsburg 1553-84/5. Beck specialised in the production of combined wheel and matchlocks. The present pistol is distinguished from the group in its generally restrained decoration with the exception of the wheel-covers which are of superior quality to other pieces of this group. See N. di Carpegna 1969, C. Bertolotto et al 1982 and Mariaux 1927. £20000-25000 | Nil |
|
20000 |
| 371 | A COMPOSITE GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK SPORTING RIFLE, CIRCA 1610-30 with heavy swamped octagonal sighted barrel rifled with eight grooves and fitted with separate breech cut for a tang-sight (missing), finely engraved flat lock decorated with a sportsman in 17th century dress shooting a lion, fitted with external wheel retained by a chamfered ring, sliding pan-cover with engraved button release, large pan-fence with projecting acorn finial, pierced dog engraved with a scrolling monster and a male profile mask, set trigger, figured fruitwood full stock profusely inlaid with engraved staghorn plaques, involving mythical beasts variously conjoined with monsters and human grotesques, larger strapwork designs similarly enriched, including the figure of Mercury in an elaborate architectural frame on the cheek-piece all in a field of scrolling ball flower tendrils sewn with conventional flowerheads, and all arranged within segmental horn lines, the butt with later fittings for target shooting, carved horn ramrod-pipe finely engraved with a monster, engraved horn fore-end cap, iron trigger-guard, and associated steel ramrod retained by a spring beneath the muzzle (minor pieces of inlay missing, patchbox-cover replaced, butt-plate removed) 103.5cm; 40 3/4in barrel PROVENANCE The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, sold Sotheby's New York, 31st January 1997, lot 506 ($14950, £9286, including premium). £7000-9000 | Nil |
|
8500 |
| 372 | A RARE SUPERIMPOSED LOAD WHEEL-LOCK CARBINE BUILT ON THE BOSSI PRINCIPLE, CIRCA 1630-35 with sighted barrel, flat lock retained by three side nails (two replaced), with bevelled borders and acorn tail, two wheels each retained by a moulded bracket (one wheel chain incomplete), sliding pan-covers, figured walnut full stock (fore-end cracked), near fishtail-shaped butt (the right-hand side previously with later inlay), and steel mounts comprising trigger-guard with sprung trigger-return, vestigial butt-plate pierced with a circular aperture for measures of powder, and two plain ramrod-pipes (ramrod and saddle bar both missing) 92cm; 36 1/4in barrel PROVENANCE: The Property of a Collector, sold Christie Manson & Woods Ltd, 11th May 1983, lot 247. Giuliano Bossi was an Italian gunsmith who worked in Antwerp between 1625-9. He promoted his superimposed load carbine in a pamphlet published in 1629, where he specifically cites the benefits of his 'double advantage wheellock Arquebus......particularly against Turkish cavalry'. Three other examples were formerly in the Visser Collection, (inv.nos HV-577, HV-841, and HV-903), one of which is signed and dated 1631. See D.R.Baxter 1966, pp129-138, pls.72 and 73 and H.L.Visser 1996, pp.692-7. NOTE ILLUSTRATION NO 304/132 £6000-8000 | Nil |
|
5500 |
| 373 | A GERMAN CIRCULAR INLAID POWDER-FLASK, THIRD QUARTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY with turned fruitwood body of doughnut form, fitted with a pierced bone plug in the centre, profusely inlaid over its entire surface with circular arrangements of horn rondels enclosed within brass frames and enriched with pieces of contrasting horn and minute brass stars, fitted with a pair of suspension loops, and sprung moulded brass nozzle, probably later (small losses and cracks, some brass wire lifting) 16cm; 6 3/8in high £800-1000 | Nil |
|
750 |
| 374 | A GERMAN ENGRAVED COWHORN POWDER-FLASK, EARLY 17TH CENTURY with curved flattened body, the inner face decorated with a series of concentric circles and the outer with a male and female figure in contemporary dress within a woodland enclosure, steel nozzle with spring cut-off (pitted), and later wooden basal cap (belt hook missing) 26.5cm; 10 1/2in £200-250 | Nil |
|
220 |
| 375 | A GROUP OF FOUR GERMAN COW HORN POWDER-FLASKS, 18TH CENTURY the first of curved flattened stained horn, and brass mounts including graduated nozzle with spring cut-off; the second, of flattened pear-shaped form, fitted with graduated nozzle incorporating a sprung inner chamber; the third of curved flattened form (nozzle missing); and the fourth of smaller curved flattened form, fitted with graduated nozzle with spring cut-off the first: 20.3cm; 8in (4) £200-250 | Nil |
|
200 |
| 376 | A FINE JAPANESE LONG SNAP-MATCHLOCK PISTOL, CIRCA 1880 with rebrowned swamped barrel formed with a full length flat, pronounced brass fore-sight, steel back-sight, integral pan with brass cover, and signed beneath the breech, brass action of characteristic form including moulded serpentine engaged by a steel sear, and brass external mainspring, figured cherrywood full stock pierced with brass-lined apertures to secure the barrel, long brass belt hook, and cherrywood ramrod 47cm; 18 1/2in The signature is that of Enamiya Jimbei who worked in Seshu province. £600-800 | Nil |
|
2200 |
| 377 | A FLINTLOCK TRAVELLING PISTOL BY BECKWITH, LONDON, CIRCA 1800 with two-stage lightly swamped brass barrel inscribed 'London' over the breech, signed stepped bolted lock fitted with roller (cock replaced, bolt repaired), figured walnut full stock (fore-end and butt repaired), engraved brass mounts comprising trigger-guard with pineapple finial and butt-cap (later ramrod) 33.6cm; 13 1/4in £300-400 | Nil |
|
320 |
| 378 | A CONTINENTAL FLINTLOCK POCKET PISTOL, CIRCA 1820 in the English taste, with moulded brass barrel belled towards the muzzle and fitted with spring bayonet beneath, engraved box-lock action with sliding thumb-piece safety-catch also locking the steel, flat-sided chequered walnut butt, and engraved steel sliding trigger-guard retaining the bayonet 23.8cm; 9 3/8in £250-350 | Nil |
|
500 |
| 379 | A CONTINENTAL FLINTLOCK TRAVELLING PISTOL, CIRCA 1740 with two-stage rifled barrel moulded at the muzzle, slightly curved stepped lock, figured walnut full stock moulded about the tang and the trigger-guard, brass mounts including pierced scrolling side-plate, spurred pommel with grotesque mask cap, trigger-guard with acanthus finial, and vacant escutcheon (later ramrod) 20.5cm; 8in £300-400 | Nil |
|
340 |
| 380 | A CONTINENTAL PERCUSSION POCKET PISTOL, MID-19TH CENTURY with octagonal barrel fitted with spring bayonet beneath, box-lock action engraved with bold sprays of conventional foliage, and bag-shaped walnut butt; A CONTINENTAL OVER-AND-UNDER PERCUSSION POCKET PISTOL, MID-19TH CENTURY; A CONTINENTAL OVER-AND-UNDER PERCUSSION TRAVELLING PISTOL, MID-19TH CENTURY; A CONTINENTAL D.B. PERCUSSION TRAVELLING PISTOL, MID-19TH CENTURY; and A CONTINENTAL PERCUSSION TRAVELLING PISTOL (each polished bright and extensively cleaned, the third and fourth with later stocks) the first: 24.7cm; 9 3/4in (5) £120-180 | Nil |
|
260 |
| 381 | A 54 BORE ADAMS PATENT 1851 MODEL PERCUSSION REVOLVER, BY DEANE ADAMS AND DEANE, 30 KING ST, LONDON BRIDGE, NO. 11,641R, CIRCA 1855 with signed octagonal sighted rifled barrel, scroll-engraved frame, the cylinder engraved with a band at the front, chequered walnut butt, and engraved steel trigger-guard and butt-cap with trap (refinished and cleaned throughout) 29.5cm; 11 5/8in £300-400 | Nil |
|
600 |
| 382 | A RARE CONTINENTAL DOUBLE-BARRELED 18-SHOT DOUBLE ACTION PIN-FIRE REVOLVER, LIÈGE PROOF, CIRCA 1870 with vertically arranged barrels each rifled with six grooves and the upper fitted with bead fore-sight, fluted cylinder formed of two concentric bands of six and twelve chambers respectively, the hammer formed with two noses and knurled spur, hinged loading gate and clearing rod on the right, folding trigger, figured walnut grips, and the butt fitted with a lanyard ring for suspension (refinished throughout) 29cm; 11in A similar 18-shot revolver is illustrated in L.Winant 1956, p.69, no. 60. The present example differs in having two hammer noses. £800-1000 | Nil |
|
950 |
| 383 | A FRENCH PIN-FIRE REVOLVER BY LEFAUCHEUX, PARIS, NO.70050, CIRCA 1870 with signed rifled sighted barrel, plain cylinder, numbered frame stamped with a mark (Neue Støckel 7770), walnut grips, and steel mounts including trigger-guard and butt-cap with suspension ring; A CONTINENTAL PIN-FIRE REVOLVER, CIRCA 1870, with sighted barrel formed with a moulded muzzle, folding trigger, and walnut grips, and ANOTHER CONTINENTAL PIN-FIRE REVOLVER, CIRCA 1870, with sighted rifled barrel of hog's back form (clearing rod and lug removed) and chequered grips (all refinished throughout) the first: 25.3cm; 10in (3) £200-250 | Nil |
|
400 |
| 384 | A CONTINENTAL PERCUSSION TRANSITIONAL REVOLVER, LIÈGE PROOF, MID-19TH CENTURY with two-stage sighted rifled barrel, fitted with ratchet rammer beneath operated by a lever on the right, rounded action engraved with scrolling foliage, fitted with safety-catch on the left, flat heart-shaped hammer, ring trigger, figured walnut grips, engraved steel back-strap signed by the maker on the inner side of the grips (worn), and engraved butt-cap (cleaned and refinished) 23.8cm; 9 3/4in £300-400 | Nil |
|
250 |
| 385 | A CONTINENTAL FLINTLOCK REGULATION PISTOL FOR THE EASTERN MARKET, CIRCA 1830 with tapering 21.2cm barrel retained by a single brass band and stamped with an Eastern mark on the breech, regulation lock with rounded tail and brass pan, walnut three-quarter stock (the butt cracked through and repaired), regulation brass mounts, and steel ramrod (belt hook missing, cleaned throughout) 36.8cm; 14 1/2in £250-300 | Nil |
|
450 |
| 386 | A CONTINENTAL FLINTLOCK REGULATION PISTOL, EARLY 19TH CENTURY, PROBABLY FOR THE EAST INDIA COMPANY with tapering 23cm barrel, lock of regulation type, walnut full stock, regulation brass mounts, and no provision for a ramrod (cleaned throughout) 3 9.2cm; 15 1/2in £150-200 | Nil |
|
320 |
| 387 | A DANISH FLINTLOCK CAVALRY PISTOL, CIRCA 1746-66 with tapering sighted 31.5cm barrel retained by a single brass muzzle band, stamped 'No.40' and with further marks at the breech (rubbed), rounded lock stamped with the crowned monogram of Frederick V, moulded hardwood full stock, regulation brass mounts and wooden ramrod (cleaned throughout) 49cm; 19 1/4in £700-900 | Nil |
|
900 |
| 388 | A GERMAN FLINTLOCK REGULATION PISTOL, MID-18TH CENTURY with sighted 24.5cm barrel retained by a single brass band (shortened), regulation steel lock figured walnut full stock, regulation brass mounts and steel ramrod (cleaned throughout) 41.5cm; 16 3/8in £300-350 | Nil |
|
450 |
| 389 | A LOW COUNTRIES MODEL 1820 PERCUSSION PISTOL, DATED 1821 an arsenal conversion from flintlock, with 20.8cm barrel, stamped throughout with arsenal markings, and with its stirrup ramrod (cleaned throughout) 36.5cm; 14 3/8in See R.E.Brooker 2006, p. 259. £350-450 | Nil |
|
650 |
| 390 | A FRENCH MODEL 1777 PERCUSSION PISTOL converted from flintlock, with 18.8cm barrel, stamped 'F' above '80' next to the percussion bolster, with a brass-tipped regulation ramrod (cleaned throughout, the stock repaired 33.6cm; 13 1/4in £250-300 | Nil |
|
200 |
